The Best Mirrorless Camera for Beginners

The $600 Sony a5100 is the entry-level mirrorless camera we recommend for most beginners. It stands out from the competition by delivering superior photo quality while being easier to use right out of the box thanks to simple menus and controls, plus it offers enough flexibility to keep up with a new photographer’s developing skills. After 60 hours of research and 25 hours of testing, we found the a5100 takes photos as well as cameras that go for hundreds more by employing a sensor that rivals DSLRs and a class-leading hybrid autofocusing system. The a5100 also boasts one of the largest catalogues of available lenses from both Sony and other manufacturers.

Last Updated: July 24, 2015

The $600 Sony a5100 is our pick for best mirrorless camera for beginners. The Sony NEX-5T, our previous pick in this category, remains a solid camera choice but doesn’t compare to the a5100’s newer technology and superior auto focusing abilities. The NEX-5T is our runner-up for the bargain price of $350.

May 11, 2015:
Setting this guide to wait while we finish rewriting it with our new main pick, the Sony a5100. Straight out of the box, the a5100 provides the best photographic experience for new and experienced users alike. It's easy to use, takes fantastic photos, has a menu system that's easy to navigate, and a help button for when you're feeling confused. For less than $500, it's the best option around. Look for our updated guide with fresh research and testing around mid-June.

April 2, 2015:
The 1 J5 is Nikon's new entry-level 1-series camera, and it brings a new sensor, tilting screen, and a better body. But we're not sure if 20-megapixels in a small-ish sensor is the best for a camera series that already has low light troubles. More below.

January 20, 2015:
Panasonic has updated its low-end mirrorless offering with the Panasonic GF7. It takes the 16-megapixel sensor and processor used in the high-end Panasonic GX7 from 2013, and squeezes it into a much smaller body, with a flip-up touchscreen for selfie work, at the eminently respectable debut price of $600. It will be able to shoot up to 10fps at full resolution, which an impressive prospect for such a low-cost camera, and has Wi-Fi connectivity. We'll be keeping an eye out for reviews.

January 15, 2015:
Fujifilm has a followup to the X-A1, with the appropriately named X-A2. It packs what looks to be the same sensor as the X-A1, so you can expect similar to identical image quality, but what is new is the flip screen for those selfie situations, and a new set of autofocus settings, including one that will automatically lock onto your eyes. Battery life is boosted from 350 to 410 shots on a charge, and it comes with a fresh kit lens, the Fujinon XC16-50mm II, which has reduced the minimum focusing distance to just 15cm (down from 30cm), and should be a boon for macro photographers, as well as 3-3.5 stops of image stabilization. It’ll debut in February for $550.

August 18, 2014:
Sony announced a half-step up to the a5000, the suitably named a5100. See the What to Look Forward to section for more detail on why we're not considering it a true competitor in this category yet.

May 18, 2014:
When we revisited this piece to evaluate whether our old pick still was the best cheap mirrorless camera, we discovered Sony's NEX-5T. While it's a technically not a new model, it puts out fantastic photos and has just the right amount of easy-to-use features.

May 14, 2014:
Nikon's announced two new 1-series cameras, the $450 S2 and $600 J4. Both face the standard problems of the 1-series, namely the expensive and few in number lenses, and poor image quality. But the S2 also cuts corners by lacking basic features like built-in Wi-Fi, or a decent resolution screen.

May 8, 2014:
Samsung has announced the NX3000, set to launch in June for $529. It features a 20MP sensor, flip up screen, and plenty of NFC and Wi-Fi options.

March 19, 2014:
Samsung's new NX-mini is pocket sized and the right price, but the new tiny sensor, and entirely new lens mount means that it's a non-starter.

January 7, 2014:
Sony announced the successor -- in function, if not name -- to its NEX-5N mirrorless camera at CES. The company has recently dropped the NEX moniker, so the new model is called the a (for Alpha) 5000. See the What to Look Forward to section below for details.

The a5100 offers a careful balance of impressive capability and usability. Boasting many of the same specs as the higher end model in Sony’s new Alpha series but priced significantly less, the a5100 delivers high performance for good value. Most importantly, it captures clean, high-quality images.

Our previous pick in this category, the Sony NEX-5T, remains a solid camera choice now at the bargain price of $350.

If our main pick sells out or becomes unavailable, our previous recommendation, 2013’s Sony NEX-5T, is now available for a very affordable $350. Technology has improved in the years between the NEX-5T’s release and the a5100’s debut, and the a5100 offers superior autofocusing abilities over the NEX-5T—especially key if your primary subject moves quickly, like a small child.

Why you should trust me

I have more than 15 years experience as a photojournalist, writer, and professional photographer. I started my career as a photojournalist so long ago we actually used something called “film.” I’ve worked as a photographer and written about photography ever since, including my role as an editor at DPReview.com, the most popular camera site on the web. In that time, I’ve gained many years of real-world experience researching, testing, and writing about photography trends, techniques, and tools.

Who should buy this?

If you’ve been wanting to take your photography to the next level but feel limited by your smartphone’s camera or the point-and-shoot model you’ve been using, or if you feel that DSLR you bought still feels too intimidating and bulky, an entry-level mirrorless model might be just the change you’re seeking. This type of camera offers plenty of auto mode readiness so you can just start shooting, but also the versatility to expand your photography prowess as you’re ready to employ more manual control and test out new lenses. And it offers far better images than your smartphone.

Should I upgrade?

The Sony a5100 makes a great gateway camera for someone who’s just getting started in more advanced photography or who wants to take better pictures. But what if you already have a decent camera floating around? Should you upgrade?

If you have a DSLR that’s less than four years old, you probably don’t need to change over to mirrorless. The image quality on an SLR of around that age is still really good, and, depending on the model, might even be better than that of the a5100. Especially if you’ve invested in a lot of lenses, there’s no need to upgrade. That said, you might want to just to save on space and weight.

The one situation where we’d say it would be worth switching is if you never take out your nice camera because you find it to be too large or clunky. There are a bunch of people out there who bought DSLRs, even fairly recently, only to be turned off by the size and complexity. If you have a Canon Rebel that’s gathering dust in a drawer somewhere, maybe you should jump on board with a mirrorless camera.

We’ve been running this piece recommending low-end mirrorless cameras for a while now. That raises the question: “If you bought one of our previous picks, do you need to upgrade?”

Our most recent previous recommendation, the Sony NEX-5T, remains a solid camera choice for new users. Where an upgrade to the a5100 might make a significant difference is in the newer model’s autofocusing abilities. The a5100 boasts 179 phase-detect points for wider coverage (about 92 percent versus the NEX-5T’s 50 percent) of the frame which means better tracking of moving subjects. If you find the NEX-5T can’t quite keep up with your fast-acting five-year-old, the a5100 should be better equipped for the job.

Otherwise, if you already have a mirrorless camera, there are a lot of variables that should sway you on if you should upgrade or not. The first thing is if you’re already invested in a lens system. If you’ve dropped hundreds of dollars on Micro Four Thirds lenses, it doesn’t make sense to completely swap over to an E-mount camera. Also, a lot depends on the age of the camera you already have, as there have been big strides in image quality and focusing speeds over the last 2-3 years; early-generation mirrorless cameras have fallen behind.

How we picked

Even though entry-level mirrorless cameras are often aimed at new users, we still demand a lot from them. First priority is that a camera has to take good photos. They don’t have to be the best the world has ever seen, but even the most wonderfully-designed camera is pointless if the images look like dreck. That means if you’re shooting in low light, the photos have to come out clean and sharp. The ideal camera has to capture a wide array of highlights and shadows on a single image so you won’t lose the details hiding in the shadows of a shrub or the artful texture of a cloud. The lens it comes with has to be of decent quality so that it’ll take good photos straight out of the box.

Since you’re buying into a system of lenses, you have to be comfortable that the manufacturer will keep producing new options and supporting the format for the foreseeable future. That means the all-but-stillborn Canon M (only one model in the USA and just two lenses), the tiny and comparatively low-quality Ricoh Q, the extremely limited Samsung NX-mini, and the fast-to-focus but poor-image-recording Nikon 1-series are all pretty much nonstarters. There needs to be a wide array of lenses at a variety of price points (from very affordable to high end) so that people who stick with the system can upgrade to a level they’re comfortable with.

The camera needs to be substantially smaller than a DSLR, because being small and light is one of the huge advantages mirrorless cameras have over DSLRs.

A good entry-level mirrorless camera should allow new users to start shooting with confidence right out of the box. It ought to provide an easy transition from “the camera that’s always with you” (your smartphone) to a camera that does more. Where your smartphone may fail—low light, fast-moving subjects, nighttime shooting with flash—this type of camera should soar.

The menu system must be easy to navigate with a touchscreen that’s just as responsive as your phone. It also needs to keep up with your smartphone in areas we’ve come to expect in our camera device: connectivity and, let’s face it, it still needs to be able to take a selfie.

And we want all of that for less than $600. It’s also great to have a battery life long enough for a full day of shooting and some nice extra features like panoramas and creative modes.

We looked over the entire range of mirrorless cameras currently available for less than $600 and then discarded many of them for being too old (like the 2013 Panasonic GF6), for having unimpressive specs (like the recently announced Nikon 1 J5) or for lacking a large lens system (like Samsung’s NX Mini).

How we tested

After poring over just about every review and comparison we could find on the remaining models, we were left with four candidates to investigate further: the $550 Olympus E-PL7, Samsung’s $400 NX3000, the $500 Panasonic GF7, and the Sony a5100.

The top contenders we found worth field testing were the Panasonic GF7, the Olympus E-PL7, and the Sony a5100.

Once in hand, the NX3000 obviously fell short of the competition. Its poor interface and bizarre hardware setup didn’t hold up to the competition, and we found simply a chore to use. But more on that later.

That left the Olympus E-PL7, the Panasonic GF7 and the Sony a5100, which we spent many hours testing out under various lighting conditions. We especially wanted to see how they performed in the situations most novice shooters find challenging, putting each camera’s autofocus, low-light and flash capabilities to the test.

The Sony a5100 is the best mirrorless camera for new users because it takes great pictures at a great value—currently priced at $500 on Amazon. Compared to the competition, it delivers superior photo quality while being easier to use right out of the box, with features like an In-Camera Guide specifically aimed at helping novice shooters get to know the camera.

The Sony a5100 packs a punch of excellent features in a compact size that’s easy to use right out of the box.

The Alpha series is the recently changed name of the NEX series, which included our previous pick, the Sony NEX-5T. The a5100 sits between the even more basic a5000 and Sony’s higher-end mirrorless model, the a6000. For about $200 less, the a5100 offers the best features of the a6000 in a compact design, including a large 24 megapixel APS-C sensor, powerful processor and hybrid autofocus system.

What’s the advantage to having a sensor that size? Broadly speaking, the larger the sensor, the better the image quality, as big sensors can capture more fine detail, a wider range of darks and lights in one image without losing either, and will do a much better job of generating clean images in low light. The a5100’s sensor scored very well in testing by DxOMark, who specialize in measuring direct sensor outputs from cameras. They labeled the a5100 sensor’s performance “excellent” and scored it nearly as high as the a6000’s sensor. The a5100 has a sensor comparable to the sensor in a DSLR—which means it has pretty similar image quality. So this camera will take images on the same level as a big and bulky DSLR camera but in a much smaller package.

We found the Sony a5100 was easy to tote around while sightseeing in Paris.

Compared to our other finalists, this bigger sensor means the Sony a5100 performs better in lower light, capturing cleaner images at higher ISOs than the competition.

Compared to our other finalists, this bigger sensor means the Sony a5100 performs better in lower light, capturing cleaner images at higher ISOs than the competition, with less of the speckles and smearing known as “noise.” In our testing, we found the Sony performed well when shooting around Paris at night, with in-camera noise reduction doing a fairly good job of keeping the images looking decent up through about ISO 3200. In DxOMark’s scientific testing, they found the a5100 can take images at up to an ISO of 1347 without compromising image quality. By comparison, the Olympus E-PL7 begins to lose quality at ISO 873; and the Panasonic GF7 at ISO 718 (based on the Panasonic GX7, which has the same sensor).

We found the Sony a5100 performed well in low-light situations with minimal noise even at higher ISOs, as in this example taken at ISO 1600.

One of the a5100’s most impressive features is its autofocus system. Compared to other cameras, it covers more of the area you’re photographing and in finer detail than most of the competition. That means it can more easily track smaller details as they move from one side of the frame to the other. It has a 179-point hybrid autofocusing system covering 92 percent of the frame, the same as the more expensive a6000, which DPReview called “class-leading.” Using both contrast-detection and phase-detection points, the Sony is capable of very fast focusing speeds, quickly finding focus, even if your subject is moving. You’ll find that the Sony a5100 spends less time “hunting” for a focus point and that more of what you’re trying to take a photo of will be in focus, more often, which truly makes all the difference when it counts, like when you’re trying to take that photo of your son’s quick-moving soccer game.

The a5100 comes with the same kit lens that impressed us on the NEX-5T, a compact 16-to-50-mm f/3.5-5.6 power zoom. As the Imaging Resource’s Dave Pardue reported, “the background blur is fairly good … it won’t win bokeh awards for the creamiest and smoothest out there … but for a kit lens it’s certainly pleasing enough for all but the most critical shooting situations, and something you simply can’t achieve with most smartphones today.”

The a5100 easily slips into a jacket pocket or small purse. It is about as wide as a deck of cards, around an inch longer, and at the largest part of the grip, as thick as two stacked decks (but generally thinner). It clocks in at under 10 ounces, so you’re not going to feel like you have a weight around your neck when shooting with it for a whole day. While sightseeing around Paris, we felt it was just the right size for toting everywhere.

Where even the best smartphone tends to fail—low light, flash photography, fast-moving subjects like a small child—the a5100 proves itself quite capable.

The a5100 is a natural step up for the smartphone shooter who wants to improve their picture making. Where even the best smartphone tends to fail—low light, flash photography, fast-moving subjects like a small child—the a5100 proves itself quite capable. And it does while still offering what you love about your smartphone: portability, a high-resolution and responsive touchscreen, and a simple user interface. And you can still take a selfie.

The Sony a5100 is selfie-ready, and you might find the countdown feature makes selfie shooting easier than on your smartphone.

You can also have fun with filters too, as the a5100 offers more than a dozen “Picture Effects” similar to those we’ve grown accustomed to when using our smartphones such as Toy Camera and Retro. The camera will let budding photographers continue to develop their skills as they explore Sony’s extensive lens library, though the kit lens is a great starting point, already offering the optical zoom missing from your phone.

The a5100 feels specifically aimed at this audience of smartphone users ready to step up their game. It offers everything a camera should, overwhelming the user with too many options and features. The In-Camera Guide (the question mark button on the back of the camera body) offers help and shooting advice with the simple press of a button. Like a mini instruction manual on the back of the camera, the advice is aimed at beginners, with practical shooting tips like adjusting saturation to achieve a bluer sky. We’d guess you’ll be far more likely to take a gander at these tips and tricks than you would to actually carry around and reference the printed version.

If you like to record video, the a5100 supports XAVC S codec, which allows for 1080p video at 60- or 24-fps video at a 50Mbps bit rate. For those of us that aren’t videographers, that means you can record very high-quality videos, better quality than most DSLRs and even better than the Sony a6000. You can also simultaneously record a smaller, more shareable MPEG-4 version for instant social media posting while you wait to edit your larger video files at home. As DP Review’s Jeff Keller put it, “There are no other inexpensive mirrorless cameras at this time that can record 1080p video at 50Mbps, and the tools that Sony has provided (focus peaking, zebra, uncompressed output over HDMI) are an added bonus.”

Who else likes it

Imaging Resource‘s Dave Pardue offers a very comprehensive 2-part shooter’s report on the a5100 that showcases how the camera performs using a variety of lenses and in a wide array of shooting conditions. He concluded, “I came away from this shooting experience wanting to own the Sony A5100 and a few select lenses, especially the 50mm f/1.8 and the 16mm f/2.8 … The Sony A5100 delivers great images at an amazing price, and that’s a nice combination.”

The Phoblographer’s Kevin Lee raved about the Sony a5100: “the Sony A5100 is the best device and most affordable way to get into the mirrorless camera world right now.” He added, the image quality of the Sony A5100 is stunning whether you’re looking at this camera as an affordable option or compared to the entire spectrum of mirrorless systems out today. The 24.3 megapixel sensor resolves a wide dynamic range and captures excellent colors.”

The a5100 received a “highly recommended” rating from CameraLabs, with an overall score of 85 percent. “The Sony A5100 is one of the most capable entry-level cameras with interchangeable lenses on the market, whether DSLR or mirrorless,” wrote reviewer Gordon Laing. “I’d say go for the A5100 if you want interchangeable lenses, great continuous AF and a selfie-screen at a low price.”

Pocket-lint gave the a5100 four out of five stars. “The A5100 is aimed at an audience wanting point-and-shoot simplicity—and perhaps the odd selfie—but better image quality than a high-end compact can offer,” said writer Mike Lowe, though he also offered plenty of criticism for the camera’s lack of on-body controls.

Amy Davies of TechRadar said, “the A5100 produces excellent images, which is the most important thing about any camera. They’re bold and punchy, while the amount of detail is fantastic.” She gave the a5100 four out of five stars.

Amateur Photographer gave the camera four and a half out of five stars. Reviewer Jonathan Devo said, “If you don’t need a viewfinder or the extra control dials of the Alpha 6000, but want more advanced stills and video capturing capabilities than those offered by the Alpha 5000 – particularly the higher-resolution sensor and superior autofocusing and tracking performance – the Alpha 5100 is a camera seriously worth considering.”

As Reviewed.com described, the a5100 is “a $700-and-under camera that performs like a far more expensive one.”

The a5100 averages 4.2 out of 5 stars on Amazon over 51 reviews at the time this article was posted.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

Both Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity are now standard for this category of compact mirrorless camera that’s clearly been designed to lure smartphone users into the camera market. But in our testing, we found there is still much room for improvement. Unlike your plug-and-play camera phone that’s ready to download a plethora of apps and start sharing your photos with the world seconds after startup, most mirrorless cameras require a bit of work to get connected and fall far short of a smartphone’s limitless app selection and direct connection to the web.

We had trouble getting the Sony a5100 to connect to Wi-Fi, but it seems that these problems aren’t widespread and so are most likely a one-off. We will be keeping an eye on future reviews to see if this does become more of an issue. Sony relies on a library of apps called PlayMemories that you install on your camera to add functionality for editing, sharing, shooting and more.

Once you’ve got the right PlayMemories app installed, you can send images directly to your smartphone, tablet or computer and then onto the social network of your choice and/or Sony’s own PlayMemories Online system. You can also control the camera remotely via your smartphone or play back your images on a network-connected television. Our question: why the added step of the proprietary Sony apps? We’re so used to directly interacting with our existing social networks when sharing images that leaping another hurdle before being able to share simply feels frustrating.

We also don’t like the idea of being forced into Sony’s growing app library, priced from free to $9.99. Of course, you can use your existing app library to modify your images once you’ve transferred them onto your smartphone, but again this extra step feels like a pain. If the camera is capable of downloading Sony’s system of apps, it feels much more customer centric to open that up to all available apps.

While the Sony a5100 does a fairly good job of keeping controls usable even in such a compact space, it’s still on the cramped side.

You’ll sacrifice some size and space with a camera design small enough to fit in your pocket, so while the Sony a5100 does a fairly good job of keeping controls usable even in such a compact space, it’s still on the cramped side. For example, the LCD’s on-screen button to toggle touch response looks like it would be too small, but is positioned in just about exactly the right spot for a quick tap with the thumb. DP Review’s Jeff Keller felt squeezed too: “I have mixed feelings about the design and user experience of the a5100. I love its compact size, but this results in cluttered controls on the back of the camera.”

The built-in flash looks miniscule but actually does a decent job in just the type of social setting you might use this type of camera. Photos we snapped of friends on a late night out in Paris turned out great, and far better had we been using a terribly tiny smartphone LED flash. That said, if you do a lot of flash photography, the a5100 has no hot shoe for adding on a more powerful flash and you might consider spending more for an upgrade to the a6000, which does.

And though we’ve applauded the In-Camera Guide button, we can see room for improvement in the written instructions. Some notes still read as dry and complex as any camera instruction manual, without fully taking advantage of the opportunity to instruct users with clear, simple language.

Battery life of the a5100 is quite good for its class: expect to capture about 400 images in a single charge. Compare that to the 350 shots on the Olympus E-PL7 or just 230 on the Panasonic GF7. However, the Sony battery must be charged in camera via USB, a factor you’ll likely either love or hate. If you’re traveling, the argument can be made that there’s no separate battery charger to carry (and perhaps forget in a hotel room); instead, you can just use any USB charger you’re already carrying to recharge the camera as needed. But this also means you can’t charge a spare battery in a charger while shooting, a practice you might already be used to doing.

Care and maintenance / setup

If looked after properly, a mirrorless camera should get you a good four to five years of use. While not the hardiest gadget in the world, unlike some products they’re still designed for pretty frequent and heavy handling. No one’s going to look at you askew for dragging your camera up to the top of the mountain, but if you take a soundbar with you, that might be a little weird.

To look after the exterior of your camera, an occasional wipedown with a damp cloth is more than enough. What you really have to be careful of is when you swap lenses, so that nothing happens to the interior of your camera—for more of a guide on how to keep that spick and span, check out our camera cleaning gear guide.

The Sony a5100 warranty is just one year from Sony. If you want something a bit more robust or long lasting, we recommend a third-party warranty service such as Squaretrade.

Runner-up

Our previous pick in this category, the Sony NEX-5T, remains a solid camera choice now at the bargain price of $350.

If you’re looking for something more affordable or our main pick sells out or becomes unavailable, look for our previous recommendation, 2013’s Sony NEX-5T. It, too, has a large sensor for detailed photos, fast shooting speeds, Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity, and Sony’s wide body of lenses, now for a very affordable $350. The NEX-5T may even have a few more selling points than the newer a5100, including a better burst rate at 10 frames per second of continuous shooting (versus six frames per second on the a5100) and a hot shoe to add the included external flash.

Of course, technology improved in the year between the NEX-5T’s release and the a5100’s debut, and the a5100 offers superior autofocusing abilities—especially key if your primary subject moves quickly, like a small child. The a5100’s sensor is also improved at 24 megapixels versus 16 megapixels, as is battery life—the a5100 can take 70 more images on a single charge. The built-in flash may be more appealing too: less to carry (or lose) and less to fuss with when you’re trying to set up your shot.

What do you get if you spend more?

Aimed at more experienced shooters, this category of mirrorless camera offers niceties such as a viewfinder that may especially make shooting in the direct sunlight easier than trying to compose your shot on a reflective LCD screen. More external controls can also mean less pecking through digital menus for specific settings, which again could make a difference if you’re finding the touchscreen options hard to see or navigate.

A hot shoe will allow you to add on a larger external flash, which may be a critical addition if you’re into flash photography.

This next jump up in camera quality should also mean faster burst modes and maybe even better autofocus, though we’re quite impressed with the Sony a5100’s 179-point system.

All of these extras come at a cost: You’ll usually end up spending nearly twice as much on just the camera body with kit lens, and you’ll take more time learning the camera’s more complex functionality and features. Now if that’s still appealing and fits within your budget, the payoff could be a more advanced camera that allows you to push your photography further than ever before.

So when our Best Mirrorless Camera Under $1,000 pick falls from its typical starting retail price, getting the more advanced option may sound all the more appealing. But we’d still caution photography novices and smartphone shooters looking to step up that the E-M10 will come with a far steeper learning curve and fewer features for beginners, like the a5100’s In-Camera Guide button. Also, the a5100 still has the E-M10 beat in terms of autofocus points with 179 versus 81 points, which should mean our pick will help you track moving subjects better.

Smaller, simpler, still better than a smartphone

If a camera like the Sony a5100 feels like it might be more than you’re looking for, you could consider a point-and-shoot model.

A good quality compact camera, much like the a5100, should be a combination of both being easy to use for a beginner, but also packing manual controls for a more experienced shooter. And it should also take better photos than your standard $150 camera that you got on sale last Black Friday without doing any research to see if it was good or not.

But these compact cameras don’t allow you to swap lenses and won’t deliver the same level of picture quality as a mirrorless.

On the plus side, a good point-and-shoot will be small enough to fit in your pocket and still offer plenty of photographic perks, like manual control and RAW shooting capabilities. With a sensor size that should still dwarf that of most smartphones—look for 1/1.7-inch sensor or bigger—it will deliver faster focusing and better low light picture quality than your camera phone. An on-camera pop-up flash or hot shoe to add an external flash should also help in those settings where your smartphone just can’t keep up.

The built in lens on a point-and-shoot like this might be a bit better than one on a mirrorless camera, and will definitely be smaller. A mirrorless model, however, offers much more flexibility with an interchangeable lens system and image quality that rivals most DSLRs. Another important factor for a burgeoning photographer to consider is the path of your photography: whereas a compact camera is complete from the point of purchase, a mirrorless system encourages you to explore further by exploring a range of lens options.

Competition

The Olympus E-PL7 lacks a flash and falls behind on image quality.

If you are looking for a mirrorless camera with a few more bells and whistles, the Olympus E-PL7 seems like an attractive option. Sitting right at $600, the E-PL7 is the latest in the PEN line from Olympus. It’s Micro Four Thirds sensor means you’ll have plenty of lenses to choose from and filter fanatics can go crazy employing a plethora of creative options.

But small details make the E-PL7 feel less like a new user choice. The lack of a pop-up flash, for instance, feels like a missing link. An off-body flash can feel intimidating to beginners, and this extra bit of fiddling to take it on and off feels a bit more clunky than the sleek, hidden built-in flash featured on both the Sony a5100 and the GF7. (Even for the tiny go-go-Gadget-flash feeling of these miniscule pop-ups, they got the job done, without the extra task or time to add a flash.)

The 14-to-42-mm kit lens also has a lock that simply doesn’t feel natural to lock or unlock before and after shooting.

But more important than these potentially uncomfortable features, the image quality of the E-PL7’s smaller sensor can’t compete with what the Sony a5100’s much larger APS-C sensor can produce. DxOMark directly compared the two to find that the Sony sensor performs better in low light, showing the same level of noise at ISO 1347 that the Olympus does at ISO 873.

The Panasonic GF7 was hampered by a worse battery life and being harder to use.

The Panasonic GF7, also $500, put itself out of the running with its many bright shiny features that just didn’t perform so well in practice. Features like the soft skin portrait mode or the creative modes slowed down the live view so much that the camera felt inept and cheap as it tried to keep up. A short battery life—rated at 230 shots per charge versus, for example, 400 shots from the Sony a5100—also means you won’t get very far on a single charge. It wasn’t quite as easy to navigate as the Sony either and the tiny grip didn’t feel as good in hand, though the actual image quality was solid.

In a category of camera clearly aimed at the smartphone photographer wanting to do more, the NX3000 annoyingly misses some of what users love about their smartphone shooting—like touchscreen control. I found myself futilely pressing the low-resolution 3-inch, 460,800-dot screen over and over again before realizing this was a dealbreaker I couldn’t untrain myself to overcome. The NX3000 also forces strange camera choices on the user like on-lens-only zoom and a microSD card, but the lack of touchscreen alone knocked this camera out of the running. Even a slightly lower price of around $400, this camera isn’t worth the compromises.

Nikon’s recently announced Nikon 1 J5, priced at $500, also caught our eye with its fast focusing speeds, 60 frames per second burst abilities, 20-megapixel sensor, redesigned body and tilting screen. But the camera’s small one-inch sensor means the images won’t be par with what you’ll see from the likes of APS-C or Micro Four Thirds cameras.

We also considered other contenders from Sony’s Alpha series including the $400 Sony a5000 and the older DSLR-style mirrorless Sony a3000, now about $270. The a5000 is the step down from the a5100, and it’s a significant step. For only about $100 more, the newer a5100 offers a higher resolution sensor (24 vs 20 megapixels), outstanding autofocus system (179 vs 25 focus points), superior video capabilities (the a5100 outperforms even the step up a6000 when it comes to high quality video recording), higher-resolution touchscreen (921,600 vs 460,800 dots) and better burst mode (6 vs 3.5 frames per second).

The Sony a3000 is a bit of a strange duck as a mirrorless camera that’s the size of a DSLR, which sort of defeats the purpose of purchasing a mirrorless camera. Again, the sensor, video capability, screen resolution (not touch and not articulated for selfies) and burst mode can’t compare to the a5100, but it’s the large form factor that really throws the a3000 out of the ring.

The $299 Samsung NX Mini was eliminated as well: its tiny lens system rather defeats the purpose of having an interchangeable lens camera.

We also took a look at the latest from Fujifilm, the X-A2, now $500. But as we found the Fujifilm X-M1 and X-A1 before it, buying one of these cameras also means buying into a system of lenses that cost far more than the competition’s, which means they’re not a great pick for most amateur/beginning photographers. That said, if you’re willing to shell out major money for great lenses, they’re definitely worth looking into.

Wrapping it up

With excellent picture quality and easy usability, the Sony a5100 is our pick for an entry-level mirrorless camera priced under $600. As simple to shoot with as a camera phone, the a5100 outshines any smartphone with images as good as you’ll see from a DSLR with its easy-to-use interface, capable zoom lens, effective on-camera flash, impressive autofocusing, and low-light performance.

Best Buy has this camera in two colors: white and black. The white one costs $440 and the black one is only $390.

benarons

No mention of Fuji?

Bond

Exactly what I was thinking. I would (and did) go Fuji.

tbarribeau

Fuji mirrorless cameras are great, but I don’t feel they hit the bill as a good camera for someone taking their first steps up from a point-and-shoot. They’re very manual intensive, the lenses (while excellent quality) are on the expensive side, and you can’t get a new one for under $500. They take wonderful photos, but I see them as more something designed for someone who already knows what they’re doing with photography, rather than a comparative beginner.

benarons

Totally makes sense. I just found it strange that they didn’t get even a mention in the article, for comparison, given their popularity.

tbarribeau

That’s fair enough. I might go in and add a quick line about the Fujifilms, just to put everyone’s concerns to rest.

Paul Watson

Relatively new Fuji X-A1 is $499. I think your other points stand though.

tbarribeau

Fair enough, you’re right, that’s now available at the $500 mark.

Mike W

My concerns with Sony are twofold. 1) They tend to introduce some weird custom feature like a micro-USB cable variant that doesn’t work with any other device, or 2) they suddenly go down-market with shoddy plastic casings and knobs replacing robust metal ones.

I hear you. I alternate between loving what Sony is doing, and shaking my head at them (like downgrading with newer models, or releasing updates that aren’t actually updates). These mirrorless cameras still don’t ship with separate battery charges, so you have to plug them into the wall directly with a cable, though I it runs through the USB port. And thankfully, Sony cameras now use both SD and MemoryStick cards, so you’re not stuck with Sony’s proprietary format anymore.

Vbuza

NEX-3N vs E-PL5, which is better choice for a person stepping up from point-and-shoot ? I don’t mind price difference between the two.

tbarribeau

They’re in slightly different camps. The image quality difference between the two is pretty minor, so that’s not really the deciding factor.

The NEX-3N is probably better if you don’t know an awful lot about how to use a camera, and tend to rely on “auto” mode. It’s a bit simpler to use, and is aimed at people who are just looking at stepping up to a better camera.

The E-PL5 might be slightly harder to get used to thanks to more convoluted menu system, but it also is significantly more expandable, as you can actually put a flash or viewfinder on the thing. It also has a touchscreen, and Olympus cameras tend to have faster focusing.

Personally, I’d go with the Olympus, but I’m pretty confidant in knowing my way around a camera. For you it might be very different.

I’d also suggest looking around stores near you if possible, to see if you can’t get a hand’s on. How it feels while you hold it might make all the difference.

Jacob Wadsworth

The sample images are so vivid that it I can’t tell the difference between using a DSLR camera. I don’t really like DSLRs mainly because of their size. There are also lots of buttons to fiddle around to get better quality photos for a certain area or situation while the micro 4/3 cameras can give almost the same quality photo but are cheaper and easy to use. Perfect for tourists. – http://www.lensgiant.com/

Laura Earle

My main reasons for upgrading from my canon point & shoot are speed and image quality (which seems to be directly related to speed). It’s just so slow to start up and slow to shoot – I end up missing the shot or getting a very blurry image. This seems like the main reason most of my friends have invested in a DSLR as well. We’re taking photos of our kids, not heading down the road toward professional photography. So this seems like a good fit for improved image quality, but still a nice compact size and price. I noticed the fps is slower than other models you mentioned, but how about just general start up and shooting lag time?

John

Samsung NX300 has some excellent specs, and good reviews in a few places. Competitive numbers on DXOMark also – overall sensor score beats NEX-3N by a bit, thought ISO number is lower.

safij

You should recommend the NX1100. I think the difference compared to the NX1000 is it comes with light room and has a firmware update. Otherwise there is no difference. It’s $300 new now from B&H, very affordable.

Kartick Vaddadi

Thanks, Tim. I followed your suggestion and bought something close to what you recommended — NEX-5R. Do you recommend the Sony wireless remote control (RMT-DSLR1 or RMT-DSLR2)? I thought I could use them to trigger long exposures without camera shake. I currently solve this problem by using the 2-second timer, but then I can’t take exposure-bracketed photos.

The Fujifilm X20 isn’t a mirrorless camera, it has the lens attached and it can’t be swapped out, so it’s a totally different class of camera. We talk about it and its ilk in our high-end point-and-shoot discussions!
-TIm

If you’re looking for second hand gear, I’ve heard nothing but good stuff about KEH.com

RAy

u guys should consider testing the fujifilm x-a1… its 599 usually … though now at amazon 499

tbarribeau

We talk a bit about the Fujifilms in the piece, and even with the price drop, I don’t think they’re as friendly for new users as the Sony is. The lenses are also on the more expensive side, which makes it harder for someone just starting out to expand their collection.

Curious if the $370 savings are worth the drop in quality from the reduced-price Olympus, and if that’s better than the previous-model NEX. Thanks for the great guide!

Sean Murray

I’d really like an answer to this as well!

tbarribeau

Hi!

That’s well spotted that the prices have fluctuated quite a bit since we wrote this guide — the NEX-3N seems to be heading ever lower and lower, and occasionally hits even around the $320-$350 mark.

With that in mind, I think the NEX-3N is a substantially better deal than the NEX-F3 at those prices. While I still say the features on the F3 are better than the 3N, $130+ is a substantial price differential, and probably not woth the difference.

The E-PL5 has dropped in price as well, just not as substantially as the NEX-3N, and now seems to be sitting at $100 off its previous. I think with both of them going for less than they did when I wrote the piece, the differential is pretty similar. If you want to spend a bit more on a camera that’ll last you a bit longer as you grow as a photographer, it’s the way to go.

With all of that said: CES and CP+ are two big expos in early next year, where we’re going to doubtless see a lot of cameras announced. So if you’re not in any rush, it might be worth waiting to see what else gets announced, and if the new options are more appealing, or drive down the prices on the extant models at all.

longshankss

Very helpful – thanks! (And if I may add, just found the wirecutter via kottke.org’s plug of your holiday gift guide and you guys are doing a great job. My new go-to for reviews.)

mbseigel

“Fujifilm X-series take great pictures, but you won’t find one for $500″
Just noticed the Fujifilm X-A1 Kit has now reached $499.

zcare now

i don’t see anything under $600…so where did you see it for $499?

mbseigel

been researching cameras for about a month now. and one thing I’ve discovered is there is amazing variation in prices. they go down, they don’t stay down, they go up. there are crazy one days sales, week sales, everything. i don’t remember where I saw it. I’ve already missed some interesting sales, not realizing that just because a camera is discontinued and the price has dropped, does not mean it stays dropped. I’m sure there is a known pattern, but I’ve yet to know what it is. but I did see it for $499. and back when I posted this, I did not realize that is was only a temporary drop. looking right now, you can find new buy it now for $499 on the major auction site. yeah, auction not exactly same as site, HOWEVER, just looked at this further and IS from an actual camera store selling on the auction site. so that sort of counts. AND just looked further, huge online seller that also sells lots of books has it direct from them, $499. and, AHA!, it you don’t like buying from the auction site, then the earlier actual store selling there, also has it on their site.

how long these will last?
( and really sorry I missed a bunch of Nikon S1 going for under $50 from an actual camera store, new on same auction site, last day of the year, maybe it was some dump them all tax thing? )
good luck!

tbarribeau

The one thing to be careful of when buying from eBay (I assume that’s what you’re talking about here) is that sometimes even legitimate photo stores will sell “grey market” versions of the cameras at a substantial discount. These are imported from Asia generally, and so don’t have a valid warranty in the USA.

zcare now

If get the best lenses like the 24mm Zeiss for this 3N, i should technically get a great pic as if i had the NEX 7 with its kit lens of 18-55mm right? I would be better off spending my money on lenses than getting an expensive body right? Bodies can be replaced as time goes by easily, but quality lenses are a keeper.

tbarribeau

If you think you’re going to be sticking with photography for a while, then lenses are an excellent investment. That way you can upgrade the body to something better, with more manual controls later. Lenses also have the advantage of retaining their price very well. And I wouldn’t buy an NEX 7 right now, it’s getting pretty long in the tooth, and hopefully Sony will swap it for something better and brighter in the near future.

All that said, I don’t think you can just say “i should technically get a great pic as if i had the NEX 7 with its kit lens of 18-55mm”. It’s a different camera with a different lens, the photos aren’t going to be 1:1 identical.

zcare now

ok..thanks..what i meant was that it is really the lens that makes the pic and not so much the body.

John

Any thoughts on a budget mirrorless that has the ability to accept an external mic?

tbarribeau

That’s not often something you’ll see on budget models, unfortunately. So if you want to save money and still get a camera with a mic input, your best bet would probably be to look into a model that’s a year or two old, and has dropped in price a bit. I’d say nose around the Panasonic models, as I know the fairly new G6 had one, and that will set you back around $750.

Micah Smith

My local camera shop has the FujiFilm X-M1 on for $599 or the FujiFilm X-A1 for $499. Wondering if I should pull the trigger on either those, or buy the Olympus E-PL5 for $599. Im looking at getting into advanced photography in the future, so the NEX 3N isn’t quite what I’m looking for. you mentioned the E-PL5 plenty, but these are on sale for cheaper or on par, and have a larger sensor frame. wondering if anyone can give me a solid opinion. (camera sales include there respective lens kit)

tbarribeau

The advantage to the Olympus in this situation is that it has built in sensor-based image stabilization, rather than requiring it in the lens. The Fujifilm line tend to have significantly more expensive lenses than micro four thirds, but that’s generally because they’re of higher quality—but it is a barrier to entry. There are also a ton more micro four thirds lenses than there are for fujifilm. And, if I’m remembering my reviews right, the Olympus is probably a bit faster to focus, too.

That said, the Fujifilms will probably win out in pure image quality. So if you’re willing to put up with a more expensive lens system, and potentially slower AF, in exchange for the best images you can get away with, they’re a solid choice.

Hardtarget24

Hey Tim, my wife and I are going to Hawaii in April and expecting a baby by August so this seems like a great time to upgrade from our Canon point and shoot to a mirrorless camera. The new Sony a5000 is on pre-order for $498 and seems like it could be perfect as a slightly nicer, but still relatively entry, mirrorless camera compared to the 3N, which looks to be $320 right now. I know it’s not out yet but any thoughts? (it just seems like the a5000 might give us a bit more room to grow over time with new lenses compared to the 3N)

Micah Smith

Sorry to bother you again, but due to the announcement of the Sony A6000 I’m questioning my pending purchase. I was going to buy the Olympus E-PL5 with Kit Lens at $529, and then in a few months time buy a good Prime. Now with the impending release of the Sony A6000 which seems comparable to the Nex 6, and coming in at $799 with Kit Lens, I am wondering if it is worth the wait and penny saving to buy this instead. Keep in mind, I am a relatively beginner photographer that wants to grow without feeling the need to buy new camera in 1/2 years. Im sure there is no definite answer, but I really value your opinion on the matter,

http://thewirecutter.com/ tony kaye

We’ll see if @tbarribeau:disqus is around to help you. Thanks!

tbarribeau

That’s a very good question, and it’s hard to give a 100% answer, as the a6000 hasn’t actually launched yet. Both it and the Olympus OM-D E-M10 look to be fantastic cameras for the price, and both look to have substantial improvements in image quality and functionality (especially Sony and focus speeds). I can’t say for sure, but I think the a6000 would be a good bet. Sony’s interface is a fair bit more intuitive than Olympus’ too, which might make it a better option for you as a new user.

Micah Smith

thank you very much for the response! I will put that advice to heart, and make a decision over next few days.

Nick

Seems like this should be updated since you can grab the NEX-6 for ~$500 now

http://thewirecutter.com/ tony kaye

We have different guides for different things. This was brought up over a month ago on our Deals page, as well as in our Best Mirrorless Camera Under $1,000 page (which is set to wait status because of new offerings & a lower price)

So after days of research, and most of it starting here at the Wirecutter, we ordered a NEX 6 last night. I have to say, that this review finally made the decision easy as the step up for just a little more made the most sense to us. So, I just wanted to say thank you for the help and I continue to refer this site to my friends who are looking for their electronic review needs.

Jay

Agreed. The NEX-6 is going for nearly the same amount of money new and I found one for $400 used. It comes down to viewfinder vs touchscreen.

tbarribeau

The NEX-6 is definitely going for a good price right now, and is a steal at $525. We had a chat with Sony to find out if it was a permanent price drop or just a sale, and they said it’s a temporary price shift, so we weren’t able to give it a stronger recommendation at this price point. And recommending second hand gear is definitely outside of our scope (though a great way to find a bargain if you get a good one). But that’s a fantastic camera you nabbed for $400!

RoastBeeph

The a3000, though, is substantially cheaper and has a 20.1 MP sensor vs NEX-5T’s 16.1 MP sensor. I’d prefer the a3000 over the NEX-5T personally (especially given the crazy deals out there for the a3000). You can get the a3000 with both the 18-55mm and 55-210mm lenses for $500 (less then the going cost for the NEX-5T with just one lense).

tbarribeau

The reason we didn’t recommend the a3000 is that its body is the same size and shape as a DSLR, which means that you lose out on all the size and weight advantages of a mirrorless camera. If you’re going to be lugging around something that’s that bulky anyway, we’d recommend going for a DSLR in the first place, because they you get an optical viewfinder, plus a much, much wider body of lenses.

I’ve heard of issues with the Auto-ISO on the NEX-5 series – that it tends to pick ISO 3200 indoors even when using a fast prime lens. Have you faced this?

tbarribeau

It’s not something I encountered, but doing a bit of digging around it seems like there’s a fair amount of dissatisfaction with the way the NEX-series in general handles Auto ISO. It seems it’ll lock the aperture at f/4 even when there’s a wider option available, and then start ramping up the ISO—and there’s no way to limit the Auto ISO range on the NEX-5 series. It sounds like it’s a frustrating interface hiccup from Sony, but probably not a dealbreaker.

dipsb

Thanks, this is a much clearer explanation of the issue for me. I guess I’ll use Aperture priority mode then.

Pedro Calazans

I have the opportunity to get an a5000 with both the 16-50 and the 20mm f2.8 lenses (and a 16Gb Sd card) for 470.

Would you think that would be a good deal?

Maybe better than the 5t with just the kit lens for 498? Or even the nex-6 for 529?

The 20mm 2.8 lens alone are worth 350! Thanks

tbarribeau

That’s a really solid deal, I’d say go for it. The 20/2.8 is a great example of a pancake lens, and lets you shoot with a lot less bulk. And, if you ever want to upgrade to a better camera, you’lll already have some glass to help you make the transition.

http://dan.cx/ Daniel Lo Nigro

The NEX-6 kit (with 16-50mm lens) has just dropped to $498 on Amazon. I ordered one and got it today! The battery didn’t come charged though, so I’m waiting for it to charge. Can’t wait to try it out! Thanks for the recommendation.

http://www.thenextactivity.com Meryl

I have a sony nexf3 and the standard lens that comes with it. I am looking to buy another slightly better lens for low light and portraits. What would you recommend?

Either the Sony 35mm f/1.8 or the SIgma 30mm f/2.8 if that’s too expensive are great places to start!

Joanna

Just out of curiosity I was wondering how the NEXF3 stacks up in comparison to the NEX5TL? They seem very similar.

tbarribeau

There’s a fair few differences to take into account, not the least of which is that the NEX-F3 is a bit older and harder to get hold of, if I recall correctly. But ignoring that, the NEX-5T gets our nod due to including a touchscreen, being able to shoot much faster (10fps vs 2.5fps), being overall smaller, and having a higher maximum ISO. The NEX-F3 does have the advantage of a built-in flash, and slightly longer battery life.

ceyanne

I am looking to make a move up from my point and shoot camera. Don’t think I’m ready for, or really in need of, a DSLR at this point. But I really want a nicer, better camera than what I currently have. I am in need of a camera that does well in low light, has a rapid burst option, and that handles fast action well. One that does well in sports photography. Both of my daughters play volleyball, indoors and where flash photography is not allowed. And my oldest also plays rugby. My main goal is to get good pics from their volleyball matches as they are not just recreational players. They play Junior Olympic Club ball and my younger daughter’s goal is to get a scholarship. They are very into the sport. And I am tired of just getting so-so pics from my point and shoot. Of course I want a camera that will do well with everyday pics and stuff like vacations but getting decent pics in the low light indoor volleyball venues is my main goal in my next camera. And it must have rapid burst. So that said, of the ones detailed above, is there one that would fit the bill for around $500? Or less. ;o) Would the NEX 5T cut it? Amazon has the Sony NEX-5TL Compact Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera with 16-50mm Power Zoom Lens for $498.

ceyanne

OK, Amazon also has a Sony NEX-6L/B 16.1 MP Compact Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera with 16-50mm Power Zoom Lens and 3-Inch LED for $499. Should I jump on that?

tbarribeau

Both the NEX-5T and NEX-6 are great cameras, and should be able to do the majority of what you’re looking for—especially take photos fast. Both are capable of firing off images at 10 frames per second.

But the big caveat here for sports is about zoom. You know how on the sides of professional sports games, you see the camera people with these absolutely enormous lenses? That’s because the bigger the sensor on the camera, the bigger your lens needs to be to get a long zoom. Since the NEX-5T and NEX-6 both have fairly large sensors, the lens they come with has a lot less zoom than you’re used to seeing on a point-and-shoot. The 16-50mm lens is about a 3x zoom. So you’ll also need to invest in a longer lens for shooting on the courts and fields. We run through a few of them here:http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/these-are-the-first-lenses-you-should-buy-for-a-sony-nex/

Hope that helps, and feel free to let us know if you have any more questions.

ceyanne

Thank you for the info! The camera I have been using the last 3 years is a Kodak Z950 with a Schneider Kreuznach lens and Variogon 10X Optical Image Stabilized. It does have customizable settings (there is a M, S, A & P on the dial) but I honestly have not learned all the ins & outs to using those settings. ISO ranges up to 1600, f stop from 3.5 to 8.3. Not sure if those are robust enough settings for lower light gyms. I’m thinking not. I just usually use the sports setting as that setting seems to be the best when trying to get shots of quick action. And while I feel it does an ok job with lower light, I know I could get better with a little nicer camera. It does fairly well with rugby but that’s obviously much better lighting. I’m sure that I am not getting the full range out of the camera that I could be, but when it comes to volleyball matches, I don’t think the camera is up to the task. My pics are terribly grainy no matter what I try. And i just want some nice clear shots. I’m not looking for magazine quality pics but I’d like better than what I’m getting. Esp. now that the girls are skilled players. I feel like I’m missing some great shots with subpar equipment (and yes, I know it’s not all about the camera. I definitely have much to learn :o) ). I have been happy with the zoom on my current camera. Which lens would you suggest that would be closest to what I currently am using if I were to get one of the Sony NEX cameras?

tbarribeau

If you get one of these Sony NEX cameras, you’re going to see much, much better image quality than with the Z950, which is pushing five years old now. With a bigger, better sensor in the NEX, the images will come out more cleanly, especially at higher ISOs.

There’s actually a deal going on right now for the lens you’ll probably want to pick up, which is the 55-210mm.http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/the-best-deals-we-can-find/#55210
You can buy a refurbished version for $190 (that price only shows up when you put it in your cart), which is a great deal on the used version of the lens, as it usually goes for $350 new.

When you combine the lens that comes with the camera (16-50mm) with the 55-210mm, you’ll actually have a zoom level that’s pretty close to the Kodak.

ceyanne

Appreciate all your help! I just picked up the NEX 5T on eBay with battery, wall charger, USB Cable, flash drive,16-50mm lens with cover and shoulder strap for $400 and then got the 55-210mm lens from BuyDig for $189. Camera was new, had only been taken out of the box once for a demo but never actually used. Hope to have everything by the weekend. Appreciate you answering my questions and your suggestions. It’s nice to have a knowledgeable person as a sounding board rather than trying to wade through info and make decisions all my own!

tbarribeau

Happy to help, and feel free to email me at timb @ thewirecutter if you have any more questions. One last suggestion, though. Since you’re buying used/open box off of Amazon, it might be worth looking into third party protection in case anything untoward might happen to your camera. I’ve had pretty good luck with Squaretrade.

Devin Cox

I am right on the cusp of buying my first mirrorless camera, and my dilemma is this: So far from what I’ve seen, the Sony range tends to come out with top marks in a lot of categories, and it interests me the most. However, I also have the opportunity to get my hands on a new Samsung NX300 for around $400 all in – so at least $150-200 less than either of the Sony models. The article mentions they are very similarly spec’d, with the smaller Samsung range of lenses being the only noted deal-breaker. What do you guys think? Would that price difference swing you?

tbarribeau

It depends a lot on how you see yourself using the camera. It’s a bit of a truism, but when you buy into a camera system, you invest in the lenses, because they’ll outlive the body. As you grow as a photographer, you might upgrade to a new, better, or more advanced body, and then you keep the lenses that already have around.

And while the NX cameras take perfectly decent photos, there’s just not as much support for them in terms of third party lenses, either.

On a more gut level, there just doesn’t seem to be much excitement about the NX cams. You can pick one up for dirt cheap, but there’s not the same community of dedicated amateurs and professionals that you’ll see with other mounts.

But if you’re just looking for a perfectly competent mirrorless camera for dirt cheap, that you’re probably not going to upgrade an awful lot, then it’s a viable option.

Devin Cox

Thanks for weighing in, I appreciate the opinion!

Devin Cox

So after ruling out the Samsung, thanks to your, and many other forums’ advice, I’ve narrowed it down to the Sony cameras. I would looooove an a6000 but don’t think I can drop the extra cash, so more realistically it is between the Nex-5t and the Nex-6. I see they’re exactly the same price on amazon right now, $500 with the basic kit lens. Aside from the EVF vs touchscreen comparison, are there really that many differences between the two? On paper they look almost identical.

tbarribeau

Yeah, they’re very similar, with the touchscreen vs the EVF being the primary difference there. I believe the NEX-6 has a slightly better battery life, and there’s a minor difference in the layout of the physical buttons (the NEX-6 has a dedicated shooting mode dial). I’m trying to remember if the NEX-5T has a better interface because it’s a slightly newer iteration, but honestly if it does, it was a minor tweak.

Sean Murray

I’m a teacher and will taking pictures for my schools yearbook. I’d like to get a camera to use at the cross country meets and other sporting events. Would I be better off with the NEX-5t or the NEX-6?

tbarribeau

Both are really great. The NEX-6 is a bit more advanced, so could provide some more room for growth if you’re willing to learn how to use it, but is also a bit older. The NEX-5T is a bit more new user friendly, but requires some diving through menus to change certain settings. The image quality should be pretty much on par, but a lot will depend on the type of lens that you use.

mikyg19

Thanks for the great comparison. I like the idea of buying an older model. It has been around and all the faults and good points are well known. Please help me narrow my choice for a new camera: small, with fast shutter delay, viewfinder for sun, great in low light. I now have a Lumix DMC ZS19 with long shutter delay, and blurs indoors. Was thinking about Sony a3000, but don’t mind spending money for a NEX 6 or a6000, or RX100MIII with a viewfinder. What may be best looking forward?

http://thewirecutter.com/ tony kaye

Our lead researcher is out of town, but I’ll forward this to him when he gets back (next week sometime). Thanks!

tbarribeau

Hi there! It can be hard to get a viewfinder into a really small package (they take up a lot of space). Luckily for your other requirements, you’re in a much more comfortable position—shutter delay has been markedly reduced, and low light performance has been doing much better.

We’ve got a big rewrite in the works for high-end point-and-shoots to look more closely at the RX100MIII, which might do well for you, and Photokina is later this month which may see more products announced. So if you’re not in a rush, I’d try and sit tight for a bit longer just to see what happens by end of month—but of the ones you mentioned, the NEX-6 might be a very good, very affordable option.

mikyg19

Thank you. I have looked at the RX100MIII and the NEX-6 and now I notice there are some new models from Panasonic (including ZS30) but I want a step up, and something different. I wish there was a place to try before you buy.

tbarribeau

For basic hands on fiddling, you can always head to a local Best Buy (or equivalent) and see if they have anything in stock that would at least give you some indication of what you’re dealing with.

If you’re willing to invest a bit in trying them out, you can rent cameras from a number of places (LensRentals and BorrowLenses are both well known).

Or, there’s the option of an Amazon buy/return, if you’re comfortable doing that.

David

Thanks for the great in depth review. I just ordered the NEX 5T refurbished from Sony for $350!

http://www.techtoll.in/ Kamal Nayan

How does NEX-5T stand against Olympus E-PL6?

In countries like India E-PL6 is $30 cheaper than Sony NEX-5T.

tbarribeau

Interesting question. The E-PL6 isn’t super on our radar because it wasn’t released universally—Olympus put it out in Asia and Europe, but not the Americas. Not entirely sure what the story is with that!

Anyway, it’s a bit of a tough call. The Olympus has built in stabilization, and access to a better array of lenses. But the NEX-5T has a higher resolution screen, can shoot a bit faster, a wider array of video modes, probably has better image quality due to the larger sensor, wi-fi, and can use focus peaking for manual focus lenses.

All told, they’re pretty close, and both are great cameras. I think the Sony might just edge out the Olympus based on some slight feature advantages (having a higher resolution screen is always super nice, wi-fi is useful, extra video modes are handy if you’re going to use them), but honestly I wouldn’t feel bad about either of the pair.

Steven

Obviously you take price into consideration with all recommendations. Currently, Amazon has the NEX-5T for $400, whereas, the a5000 is now $300 (Only $50 difference at time of publication). Does this change how you view each camera, or do the additional features that the NEXT-5T offer still outweigh the cost difference?

tbarribeau

Oooh, that’s a good question. Since the a5100 is the actual followup to the NEX-5T, having the a5000 be a bit cheaper makes a certain degree of sense. Personally, I’d lean towards the NEX-5T still for the much higher resolution screen, the fact that it has a touchscreen, the faster burst rate, plus the hot shoe so you can use flashes. But it’s a tough call!

We’re going to be looking at this piece again in the New Year, following CES, to see if anything looks like a better low end pick than the NEX-5T. Hopefully there should be some new models and price drops by then that’ll change things up a little.

Johan Chandy

I’m trying to choose between the A5000 and X-A1 as they are both on sale and the other options mentioned here are significantly more expensive here in Canada. Which would be the better out of these two for vblogging in your opinion? I’m hoping to get the bokeh effect as well but have never handled a mirrorless camera before

tbarribeau

Hmmm….they’re pretty different cameras. It depends a bit on your budget later down the line. Maybe the biggest difference is the lenses. There are a lot more available for the Sony, and they tend to be significantly more affordable. The Fujifilm lenses cost a pretty penny, but are all super high quality. You can also get high cost/high quality lenses on Sony E-mount, but at least there you have options for low cost ones too. Check out our guide on those for some more info

Otherwise, the Sony can shoot video at 24p, which the Fuji can’t, and generally speaking, Sony’s more on top of things in the world of video than Fuji is (though I’m not super knowledgeable on that front). The Sony’s also lighter, has a longer battery life, and can push the ISO higher for shooting in low light. The Fujifilm has a better screen, and can shoot images in a burst faster.

Hope that helps you weigh them up!

Johan Chandy

This was extremely helpful. Thank you so much!

Andy

Which is better NEX-6 or A6000?

tbarribeau

Probably the A6000, which is the newer of the two. It has a higher resolution image sensor, takes slightly better photos, has a longer battery life (420 vs 360 shots), and if I recall correctly, the autofocus system was substantially improved.

Will

Quick question for the gallery. I’m heading on a big trip this year and finally want to step up past my smartphone camera (nexus 5) Options are Nex-6 body only 250, Nex-5TL amazon deal for 300 or the rx100 for 250ish as well. I’ve done a ton of research but since I am absolutely new to cameras I’d love to get some opinions from those who actually know what they’re talking about!

tbarribeau

The RX100 has really good picture and video quality for a camera of its size, but is still quite a bit behind the NEX models. It’s way better than a smartphone camera, especially in low light, but in terms of raw image and video quality, the NEXs will serve you better. But, the RX100 is also much, much smaller, and can even be thrown into a jacket pocket pretty comfortably, and has a really great lens.

The two NEX6 are both maybe a little confusing for a new user (but hey, the RX100 is too), since they’re pretty advanced. But if you’re willing to put some time and effort into learning them, they’ll serve you well. The NEX-6 has a more advanced control scheme, with two control dials, which lets you change settings faster, and it comes with an electronic viewfinder. The NEX-5T has a touchscreen, which you might find a bit easier to handle, coming from the world of smartphones. Tap to focus is super handy.

Hope that helps!

Will

That helps a ton, thank you!! I absolutely want to learn more about photography and from all the information I’ve soaked in it seems like I’ll actually use and carry a high quality PNS or mirrorless rather than a full fledged DSLR.

That being said, you mention them being confusing for a new user which makes me ask the question: what would you recommend for someone in my shoes then? The NEX interface seem pretty easy to use but if there’s another choice that might fit someone in my position I’d love to hear it!

tbarribeau

It sounds like you’ve done a fair amount of research, and have some idea of how the interface already works, so you’ll probably be fine.

It’s more of a case where someone gets their first ever advanced camera, turns it on, and then gets immediately overwhelmed by having three dials, 10 buttons, and 12 pages of options that you can play with. Usually, the lower-end cameras do a better job of holding your hand on this stuff (the Nikon D3300 in particular is fantastic), but with a bit of research and experimentation, you should be able to figure it out.

Of the three, the NEX-5T will probably be the most user friendly for a new user (especially with that touchscreen), but if you’re up for reading and fiddling you’ll be fine with the others. Just don’t be afraid to advance beyond Auto mode!

Bruna

Hello, I’m planning to finally buy a Mirrorless camera for me, but I can’t decide between Sony A5000 (w/ 16-50 lens) or Samsung Nx3000 (w/20-50 lens). Which do you think is better? Thanks in advance.

tbarribeau

Hi there,

As the piece says, we actually think the slightly older NEX-5T is a better bet than the Sony a5000, and is $50 cheaper, so that would be our pick. And compared to the NX3000, it has a touch screen, better autofocus system, has a higher resolution screen, and can shoot images faster.

nevyn

that response didnt at all answer her question she asked.

tbarribeau

It’s a third option: one that’s better and cheaper than either, and that we spend thousands of words explaining as the best option around for most people.

Don Armos

Thinking of picking up the NEX-5T along with the 55-210 mm zoom recommended in the E Mount article. Do you have a recommended camera bag for all this? Thanks!

tbarribeau

They’re pretty old now, but a while ago we did a roundup of camera bags

While some of those aren’t readily available anymore, at the very least it’ll give you the names of some bag makers that we like, and who it’s worth looking in to for options!

Javi

Great article! I might have the chance to sell my canon t3/1100d for about the same price it costs to get a nex-5t or nx300m. I still haven’t made up my mind which of the two I would buy, but do you think that either of them would be an improvement compared to my older dslr?

tbarribeau

In terms of pure image quality, you’ll probably see a spike, especially with the Sony. The Canon T3 is a pretty old model, and there have been some notable improvements to sensors since then—and when you crank the ISO up really high you’ll be able to spot the difference. According to testing at DxOMark, you’ll see the same noise levels at ISO 1015 on the Sony as you would at ISO 755 on the Canon, which should let you push your images a bit further and keep a cleaner looking final photo.

Overall we prefer Sony to Samsung mirrorless cameras, but if you can, try and get a bit of hands on time with both to figure out which feels better in your grip.

Zachary Sabato

Hey, I’m going to Europe this summer and I figured it would be the perfect time to finally get into photography like I’ve always wanted to. I always thought I should get a DSLR, my cousin who is a photographer told me its not really worth the price for what I want, and then sent me this to reference.
You’ve successfully talked me into a Mirrorless, and I was highly considering the NEX-5T and then I saw the a6000, and I would really like the viewfinder. Which one do you recommend for summer photography/beginner. Is the a6000 worth the higher price over the NEX-5T? Any advice would be great. thanks!!!

http://thewirecutter.com/ tony kaye

@tbarribeau:disqus can help!

tbarribeau

The a6000’s a great camera, and so is its Olympus equivalent the E-M10

Either of those have great viewfinders, which is definitely a useful feature to have. The downside of either of them is that since they’re slightly higher end models, they’re a bit less beginner friendly. The in-depth menus and large number of body dials and buttons can be a bit overwhelming. It’s still totally doable to learn on one, though, you just have to be willing to be a bit self directed, and figure out what everything does.

Overall, I’d say the a6000 is worth the extra money, but is a bit less user friendly for a total newbie.

Another option is to look at the NEX-6, which is the previous generation predecessor to the a6000. It has many of the same features, including a viewfinder, and is considerably cheaper now that it’s a bit older. But same caveats on learning to use!

Looping back to your original question, though, if you are interested in a DSLR, this is the one to look at.

It’s affordable, has a viewfinder, and actually has a really good set of tools to teach you how to shoot with it. But it’s much bigger than a mirrorless camera, so you have to weigh the bulk factor into your decision.

Zachary Sabato

Thank you! I actually ended up buying the NEX-5T, I found a refurbished one ebay, with the 16-50mm lens, and the 55-210mm lens, and a case for $399, it was a deal I couldn’t pass up. I’m excited to start using it and see what its capable of!

tbarribeau

It’s a great camera, I’m sure you’ll have a blast!

Connor Hartzog

My 13 year old sister has always been interested in cameras and photography and has been saving up for some time now to get a nice camera of her own. I have been recommending this to her, as it seems like a great first camera with its strong auto mode and also full manual controls. Would you agree with my recommendation for her?

http://thewirecutter.com/ tony kaye

Paging @tbarribeau:disqus

Connor Hartzog

Thanks for your help and the awesome article, she just purchased the camera (using the affiliate link of course)!

tbarribeau

Yeah, it’s definitely a great pick. We’re looking at maybe updating the piece in the next couple of months to look at newer options, but given that the NEX-5T now goes for $400 (or even less used), you’re going to be hard-pressed to find a better mirrorless camera at that price. It’s definitely a solid learner camera, with plenty of room for the user to grow as they become more comfortable with manual settings.

Connor Hartzog

Thanks for your help, she just purchased the camera (using the affiliate link of course)!

Alyssa Marchman

I have had a canon t2 for many years. I’m not a professional photographer and mostly use it for travel and family photos but I love the quality of the images. This article is making me think I should get a mirrorless since I find myself leaving behind the dslr because of its size. I can’t find the Sony NEX 5T in any store so I would have to buy it sight unseen. I’m also a little nervous about not having a flash built in. Would you still recommend the 5T or are there better mirrorless options now available I should also be considering? The price is hard to beat but I want to get the best available to last me the next 5 or so years. Thanks!

tbarribeau

If you’re not in a hurry, I’d suggest waiting for a month or two if you can. We’re about to start a refresh of this guide to make sure it’s the best bet for its price currently on the market. If you do need to purchase now, the NEX-5T is still a very good bet, and it really does take stellar photos.

And honestly, a built-in flash isn’t even that useful on a DSLR or mirrorless camera. For shooting in low light, the flash doesn’t have enough power to really illuminate much, is very small, and often annoys those around you. You’d be better served by cranking up the ISO a bit, and investing in a lens that has a larger maximum aperture.

Subhashis

Hi Tim @tbarribeau:disqus I am planning to buy a camera, my previous one was a Nikon point and shoot. Now I want to learn some photography. My budget is not that much, so may be I will not buy any extra lenses later, will depend mostly on Kit lenses. I was thinking to buy Nikon D3300 but after reading your and some other reviews I am now more inclined towards mirrorless camera. Can you please let me know by when you are going to publish the new article, is it before end of April? I want/need to read your latest article before buying my new camera. Thanks a lot!

tbarribeau

I’m not sure if we’ll have the piece published before the end of April, but if you chase up with me about half-way through the month, we might have an idea of what the pick will be, and be able to help you out that way!

Subhashis

Thank you, Tim for the quick response. I have planned for vacation around mid of May, so technically I have time till that time to buy the camera. I will check with you about your pick around end of April. Thanks again!

Colleen Molloy

I am utterly torn between the NEX-5TL and a6000. It looks like you agree the a6000 is a better camera, but how much better is the question. Right now on Amazon the NEX-5TL is only $400, while the a6000 is $700. Do you think it’s worth the difference in price, @tbarribeau:disqus ?

tbarribeau

It depends a lot on your skill and requirements. The a6000 is going to be a fair amount harder to learn on, and as you say, is a whack more expensive. But if you have the wherewithal to learn how to use the more advanced settings, the dual dial control scheme, and really take advantage of the viewfinder, then it’d be the one I’d go for. If you’re just going to be taking something out to take snaps on a walk through the woods, and don’t want anything massively overcomplicated, the NEX-5T might suit you better—and the raw image quality is pretty close.

Colleen Molloy

Thank you! I ended up purchasing the NEX-5TL. Just too good a deal to pass up.

Tyler Jones

I’m considering buying this camera so I can photograph some of my paintings to make prints, and also to record painting/drawing progress videos. Would this be a good camera for that? Too much, too little? I’m quite new to the camera world.

Thanks for the article and all the support in the comments.

tbarribeau

It’ll take good photos of the paintings, but one thing you want to be careful of is lens distortion. Lenses usually bulge a little, either inwards or outwards, along the edge of a frame. It’s not a big deal for most people, but if you’re trying to take something where maintaining straight line is important, like the frame of a painting, you either need a bit of software that can reduce this distortion (many cameras have this built in, too), or else a lens that has low distortion.

Some lenses that are compatible with this camera that do a really good job of avoiding lens distortion are the Sony E 50mm f/1.8 OSS SEL50F18 and the Sigma 30mm f/2.8

However, if you stick with the lens that comes with the camera, it’s not too bad as long as you zoom the lens in. Fully zoomed out, it’s pretty rough, but the more you zoom in the more under control it gets.

The other thing to be aware of is on the video front—most digital cameras have a baked in limit of 30 minutes for video recording. If you want anything longer, you’ll have to invest in a dedicated video camera. But you can always just get up and hit “record” again after each 30 minute section.

Tyler Jones

I’m aware of the distortion problem but I was hoping it would look okay zoomed all the way in. Thanks for the lens recommendations, though. I wouldn’t have known where to begin with those otherwise.

Good to know about the time limit. I wasn’t aware. And yes, I’ll definitely get a tripod as well!

tbarribeau

Great, sounds like you have a pretty solid handle on things! If you want to get super nerdy about distortion, I’m pretty sure that Sony does a fairly good job of minimizing it in-camera when you shoot with JPEGs, so it should be at least minimized. And SLRGear’s testing shows a bit more about what focal lengths make the most difference—shooting all the way zoomed in is your best bet

I just noticed on today’s deals that the Canon D3300 is close to the same price. Should I go for that instead?

tbarribeau

It’s a great little camera! You’ll add a fair amount more bulk with the D3300, but you’ll also get longer battery life, a viewfinder, and a better array of lenses.

mwoody450

First off, I want to say thank you to the Wirecutter. I found this site only recently, but it has already guided me in a number of happy purchases. However, as the new owner of a NEX-5T, I think you ommitted a glaring and, for me, insurmountable failing: heat.

The device lists a 29 minute recording time, which is of course not generally a technical limitation: it prevents the device from drawing higher tariffs in some parts of the world. However, here, it’s a very optimistic value: the camera will overheat and shut off – not just stop recording, but flat out go dark and unresponsive – in the 10-15 minute range. Some searching – which I didn’t do enough of before purchase, thanks to the glowing review here – reveals that it’s not a rare defect but an outright design flaw.

I know it’s a camera and not a camcorder, but the video was a large part of why I was interested in the device: my phone takes somewhat decent pictures, but it’s a pain to hold for longer recordings. Learning that I not only can’t record the listed amount, but that it will become uncomfortably hot to hold and lose the ability to even take pictures within short order, is very disappointing.

For those who don’t care about video, I would caution you to google “NEX-5T overheating” before a purchase, as this problem plagues even overzealous traditional photography.

I realize I may be an edge case, but nevertheless, I think it’s a common enough problem that it bears mentioning in the review. Thank you for your time, and keep up the good work.

tbarribeau

Thank you for the heads up! We’re in the process of updating this piece with new models that have come through more recently, and that’s something we’ll be sure to look into!

Subhashis

@mwoody450:disqus Thanks for the information that you have shared. I was planning to buy that after seeing the price reduced to $ 350 in Amazon. But before that I came here again to check if the camera list has been updated or not and found your comments… Thanks again!

Renoria

Hello,

I’m justing getting into the whole “professional” camera thing and decided to go for mirrorless following your guide on which camera to choose.

Considering the Sony NEX-5T is now just $350 at Amazon is there any other camera in the same price range that comes through better than it?

Additionally I would like to know what step-up is now more suitable to the Sony NEX-5T and is it worth it price wise?

Regarding the lens I do not plan in investing on additional ones at this point in time. I might in the future but not looking to be spending much tbh.

Thank you

tbarribeau

For $350, it’s still a great camera! But it is looking a little older now, so we’re in the process of updating this piece with some newer models. Even so, $350 is a great deal.

If you want to drop a bit more, we’re big fans of the Sony a6000 and Olympus E-M10

How long before we see an update? Don’t mean to sound rude but just want to know if you have an ETA. Thanks!

AddVariety

It’s a shame (maybe even downright ignorant) that you guys purely focus on the camera itself. You guys said it well that most amateurs leave their dSLR gathering dust “because you find it to be too large or clunky”.

But when it comes down to the lenses, every single E-mount (or NEX) lens is the exact same size as the equivalent dSLR lens, for one simple reason: it needs to fit the APS-C sensor. Sure, the APS-C sensor is what makes the Sony MILCs great and the same goes for the Fuji MILCs, but again: you won’t gain anything when it comes to the lenses, both in weight and size, if you compare it to a Canon Rebel or Nikon dSLR for instance. The only exception is Sony’s pancake kit lens, but usability with this lens (as with all kit lenses) is limited due to zoom range and average aperture.

Therefore I find it inexcusable that no Panasonic or Olympus micro four/thirds MILC is taken seriously in this article. Their sensor size is a bit smaller, but as a result (literally) all lenses are much smaller and lighter. When you boil it down to sensor quality, no m4/3 sensor is going to beat the great APS-C sensors of Sony or Fuji, but that’s not the point. We’re talking about affordable camera’s, so someone who’s not willing or able to spend more than a few hundred dollars on a camera kit (myself included) is not going to spend hundreds of dollars on expensive Fuji lenses. Even Sony lenses tend to be a bit more expensive than the Olympus or Panasonic ones and to be fair, Sony doesn’t have a great track record when it comes to lens image quality. Not that they’re bad, but for the money you should expect more.

That’s again where the m4/3 camera’s come in to play. Roughly the same price as a NEX or alpha camera, but much more flexible when it comes to lens choice and image quality remains roughly the same when you don’t pixel peep or mostly want to shoot in the darkest hours of the night.

tbarribeau

We’re actually really big fans of M43 here at the Wirecutter. Our recommendation for best mirrorless camera under $1000 is an Olympus

But the fact of the matter is that the low end of M43 has floundered a bit recently, compared to what Sony is doing. When was the last time Olympus announced an E-PM model? And we’re two years since the E-P5, and the E-PL7 costs too much to qualify for this piece, even eight months after it debuted!

Well, what about Panasonic? They’re doing a bit better—we’re actually in the midst of getting a GF7 out for review to update this piece. And before then there was…the GF6? Which came out in 2013? Both companies haven’t exactly been throwing resources at sub-$500 cameras, which makes sense when you consider how all the acclaim they’ve been getting is for Olympus’ E-M series, or the higher-end and video-capable Panasonics.

The size advantage to M43 is pretty significant, no doubt. But it’s only part of the puzzle, and you shouldn’t underestimate how much you save by simply the act of cutting out the reflex lens from a DSLR, even if the lenses stay the same size. Consider the a5100 vs the d3300

The Sony is still half the size of the D3300. Heck, the Sony with the lens is as thick as the D3300 without a lens!

Which is also why I don’t get the Sony a3000. It’s just as bulky as a dslr—so why not buy one and get an OVF? But I digress.

We’re not trying to do M43 a disservice here, but neither Olympus nor Panasonic has been putting a lot of effort into low-end mirrorless cameras of late. And I think that’s reflected in this pick.

AddVariety

Fair enough, you make some good points I have to say. There’s nothing you or I can do about the lack of sub $500 m4/3 cameras.

In that case I’d at least taken a moment in the already pretty long article to state the downsides of the chosen cameras. Still that remains the weight and size of the lenses. Sure enough, prime lenses are not really a concern and neither are the collapsible kit lenses on both systems, but you forget the two categories that actually make a huge difference. And huge is no overstatement as I shall make clear.

The first categorie contains lenses that have a slightly larger zoom range than the almost standard 3x you get with a 16-50mm on the Sony NEX/alpha APS-C cameras, 18-55mm on APS-C dSLRs or 14-42mm on the m4/3 systems. For convenience, I’ll stick to the brand’s own lenses in below’s list.

Conclusion: I’ve chosen very similar lenses, purely based on 35mm equivalent focal length. As you can see, the Sony and Canon lenses are very comparable in every aspect. Sony manages to be slightly lighter, but Panasonic and Olympus lenses are almost half the weight of the other ones.

In pure length they don’t differ that much, but still the m4/3 lenses win each time by almost 2 cm.
Looking at the price finally, we cannot conclude other than the fact that Sony is always the most expensive option out there.

So, yes, you might save a hundred or two buying a NEX or alpha compared to a m4/3, but look at all the lenses available on that format for under $400 (not including the kit lenses):
Sony has 5 out of 13 “Sony E” lenses.
Canon has 4 out of 13 “Canon EF-S” lenses.
Panasonic has 9 out of 20 “Panasonic m4/3″ lenses.
Olympus has 8 out of 18 “Olympus m4/3″ lenses.

And no, I did not favour the m4/3 lenses by picking $400 as a limit. It’s a favour for Sony, since lowering the limit by $100 reduces the options to 3.

So the best advice to give to aspiring small-sized MILC buyers would be to make an expectation of what you’re planning to buy in the next couple of years. If you don’t plan on anything, stick with Sony indeed. But live with the consequence (higher prices) as soon as you start building your lens collection. If you go upwards of 5 lenses with a $100 difference each time, that means you’ve purchased another NEX/alpha just for the sake of having a NEX/alpha in the first place.

So if you are indeed planning on a prime, a super zoom, a tele zoom, a macro lens or any other lenses for whatever matter (there are also motorised zoom lenses for video on all systems), you best investigate what the prices are for each system and those $200 extra for an OM-D E-M10 or GF7 might not be such a bad deal in the first place after all.

tbarribeau

That’s a really good point. It’s a hard sell to convince people to spend more now on the prospect of expansion being cheaper/better later, but you really cannot fault for the availability and affordability of m43 lenses!

I once heard a stat that something like 75% of DSLR users never go beyond their kit lens. I’ve never managed to track down the origins or a confirmation for it, but I wish I could. That sort of data would be fascinating—because you do wonder a lot about people who buy a system camera, but never upgrade the lens. I get the feeling it’s a lot of folks, especially those who buy more affordable models. In which case, is it worth recommending the camera that provides the best picture straight out of the box? But if you know someone wants to get into it more deeply and upgrade in the future, then recommend one with a better lens selection?

Lori

Wow, I’m amazed and grateful that you are so patient and generous with your time, answering so many questions here. I’ve been reading what feels like thousands of camera recommendations and yours is by far the most helpful!

I am shopping for a camera to replace my Samsung Galaxy S5 phone (!) for shooting pictures of jewelry for my website. After reading your review I’m in love with this Sony NEX-5T, but don’t know if it will do what I need – primarily shooting crisp close ups of jewelry, hopefully with a bit of background blur thrown in. (Bracelets, necklaces, etc., not super macro of gemstones.) Will the kit lens on this camera do the job, or will I have to buy a macro lens? I see that the maximum aperture on this lens is 3.5. I’m still new to all of this but a low aperture seems to be one of the features that is mentioned often for my needs.

Or would I be better off getting a nicer point and shoot with macro, like the Canon s110 or s120?

I like the idea of learning better photography on the mirrorless system, but don’t know if it’s overkill, or if it will require more lenses, which basically doubles the price of the PNS.

Thank you for your help!

tbarribeau

Hi Lori,

You’ll be able to get some of the same effect with the kit lens, but unfortunately it probably won’t be as dramatic as what you’re looking for. Have a read over our lens guide for some basic recommendations

Even though you’re not super super close, you might still be interested in a macro lens, or at least the Sony 35mm f/1.8 normal prime. The latter won’t let you get quite as close as a true macro lens, but is still pretty good for getting a nice background blur on it.

I sympathize with the sticker shock with those lenses. There are a couple of ways to think about it, though. A good lens will outlast your camera, and you can use it with other cameras you may buy 5 years down the line. Lenses also retain their resale value very well.

To save a bit of money, one other compromise is to look at the Sigma 30mm f/2.8 lens. It won’t have as much background blur, but if you’re willing to put some time and effort into using it, you can pick up some decent results!

Finally, if you are thinking of getting a pocket/compact camera instead, I’d say skip the Canon S-series, as good as they are, and instead try and find a Sony RX100 (either the mark I, II, or III). These have a much bigger sensor than the Canon S120, and consequently can get a better background blur, and take clearer photographs in low-light situations.

That depends! I’d only go for the a6000 is you’re already pretty experienced, it can be a pretty overwhelming camera. Otherwise, between the other two, what are you planning to use it for? Any particular things in mind?

Subhashis

Thanks Tim @tbarribeau:disqus for your quick response.

No, I am not experienced, but want to learn whenever time permits. Previously I had one point&shoot. Main use would be photography of nature… family and friends and diff stuff while traveling. Apart from the weight and size, how would you compare between D3300 and a5100?

Do I really need the zoom lens? otherwise thinking to buy a6000.

Pretty confused!

tbarribeau

Here’s the thing. The a6000 isn’t going to take any better photos than the a5100. However, it has a lot more advanced features that higher level users really like. It has a viewfinder, a better autofocus system (iirc), a dual dial control system for going through settings extra quickly. The downside is that it’s a lot more complex. If you’re willing to take the time and effort into learning how to use it, then it’s great—but if you’re going to shoot in auto mode most of the time, the a5100 with the lens will probably serve you better.

As for the D3300, in its favor is the fact that there are a lot more, and a lot more affordable, lenses out there; it has a viewfinder; and Nikon has an awesome “guide” mode that teaches you how to use it. But, it weighs a lot more and is a lot more bulky than the other two. And a camera that you don’t take with you is a camera wasted.

Subhashis

Thanks Tim for your detailed reply..I will go with a6000, I think it will help me to grow as a photographer, if I want to learn..of course that needs time and effort

Thanks again!

RichardSE

Tim, I’m also impressed at how much time you spend answering questions and it is very much appreciated. When you say if you’re going to shoot in auto mode most of the time, the a5100 will serve you beter, does that include semi-automatic modes (apperture or shutter priortiy modes)? Part of the reason I’m thinking of getting a mirrorless camera is to be able to experiment with those types of settings.

tbarribeau

The manual modes on the a5100 are still definitely there and totally functional! The E-M10 might just be a better fit for someone who really likes diving deep into menus and fiddling with various settings to get something more to their liking.

Mark Mahoney

Hey Tim! I was able to find both of your recommendations in Wirecutter’s “Best Mirrorless Camera for under $1k” article (Olympus OM-D E-M10 and Sony a6000) for sale online for under $500 with kit lens.

Does that mean I’d be better off going for one those higher end cameras rather than the ones listed here? Granted the Nex-3T can be bought for $350 online now, but this article was written under the assumption that it was priced at $498.

Thoughts?

Subhashis

Hey Mark, where did you find Sony a6000 with kit lens for $500? everywhere its $599 man! yeah OMD EM-10 is $500 now.

Mark Mahoney

Woops! You’re right, $450 on Amazon, body only, $600 with lens.

I’ll edit it above. Still, it’s cheap enough where it can (almost) be considered “low cost” according to this guide. So I’m wondering if it makes sense to go for the higher model.

tbarribeau

Yup! Both the E-M10 and a6000 have had recent pricedrops or go on sale a lot. Not sure if this means that the manufactures might have something new in the works…

But to address your question. It’s not just a matter of price, there’s also a different use case for the higher end cameras. In these cases, it’s not a better image quality, but rather a more advanced set of tools that a photographer can use. So there are some clear and obvious benefits that anyone would see, such as a viewfinder, or a better autofocus system. But you’ll also be facing down a more complex control scheme, with more button and settings that are thrust in your face when you first pick it up. If you’re the sort of person who wants to learn all the ins and outs of their camera, and is willing to put the time and effort into learning how to use all those buttons and settings? Then that totally makes sense! But if you’re worried about getting overwhelmed with your first camera of this type, the lower end model might actually be the one you use more, regardless of price.

Mark Mahoney

Definitely up to dive into the advanced features.

But now you have me scared that I’m going to buy the E-M10 and then Olympus is going to announce something crazy that’s going to make my purchase a poor choice.

What, in your opinion, is the best camera with great video under $600?

That means that video features (mic input, long record time w/o overheating and good constant AF are a must)

This will be primarily used for video, but I don’t want to get a camcorder, for some reason (maybe sensor size?), all the sample videos from mirrorless cameras look way better (to me) that the video from you camcorder pick, and you get locked in to a single lens etc.

My only issues with it (I think) is that it still uses a %100 contrast based AF, which may be an issue for video and that it has a MFT sensor (2X crop) vs. a APS-C

What do you think?

Thanks!

tbarribeau

Getting a good video camera for less than $600 is a big ask, and unfortunately not something I know a ton about. I could be wrong about this, but I think the G6 is one of the few cameras that doesn’t have the built in 30 minute file recording time limit, at least in some modes

I wish I could offer a bit more help, but this is a bit outside my sphere of knowledge. G6 seems like a solid bet, though.

Robert

Now that the olympus (best mirrorless under 1000) is down in price to the same exact price as your new pick which one is better? The olympus or the sony?

http://thewirecutter.com/ tony kaye

We’ve set this guide to wait status while we get to the bottom of some issues. There are a few discontinued cameras here so we’re addressing the entire guide. I’ll see what our expert thinks but you might want to hold off until we have a better direction of where this guide is going

tbarribeau

It’s a tricky question because there’s a lot more going on there than just “which is the better camera”. Despite similarly pricings, the E-M10 and a5100 are aimed at very different users. Part of what makes for a good, low-end camera is that it’s aimed at a new user to help them become comfortable with a camera and take great photos, without it being overwhelming. A camera like the E-M10, on the other hand, expects you to find your own way around it with a far more complex control scheme, and an occasionally overwhelming array of buttons and knobs. So if you know what you’re doing? The E-M10 makes sense, but for a new user? The better ease of use of the a5100 weighs heavily in its favor.

We also don’t know if the E-M10 is permanently marked down to the $500 mark, or if this is a temporary price drop, which makes it hard to make a blanket statement.

Robert

Thanks for responding! I was looking for a good DSLR or mirrorless camera for both stills and videography. I’m looking for a camera to do semi-serious/amatuer videography. And my budget is about $600, although I’m more comfortable with spending $500. From what I have seen and read the a5100 is a great camera for video, and recommended by many! I also looked at your best entry level DSLR the Nikon D3300 but the a5100 still has the advantage in video (also given that they both have the same exact sensor from sony and pictures from both are almost virtually the same). I think I will end up getting the a5100 thanks for helping me find it even though you haven’t published the article yet investigating more about the camera has helped me find exactly what I think I am looking for. And yes I am brand new to photography and just getting into buying my first actual camera. Thank You!

tbarribeau

Happy to help! And good luck with your future adventures in photography and videography!

On the lens issue: the a5100 uses Sony’s 16-50mm PZ kit lens. For a detailed review, I really like SLRGear

Yes, vignetting is a bit of a struggle. But it’s a tradeoff for a combination of an otherwise solid little lens that is very small when closed down.

Robert

Also I have heard from a reviewer that the a5100 kit lens has the occasional problem of vignetting the image. Have you found this to be a problem?

Yiannis Ioannou

You dismiss Samsung because of the lower number of lenses, something which might be important to some people.

However many people who are looking for a budget mirrorless camera are not interested to buy lots of lenses. If you are going to buy (or already bought) lenses that worth several $100s or even $1000s then you might as well spend a little more and get a higher end camera.

It should also be noted that the 16-50mm kit lens of Sony is not very good, while the 16-50mm kit lens of Samsung is much better (according to several reviews, example: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2462581,00.asp). This is far more important for the budget conscious buyer who might not even buy an additional lens.

Therefore in this category (Affordable Mirrorless Camera), cameras by Samsung (NX300, NX3000, NX500) would be a better match, and should be at least seriously considered, rather than dismissed based on something that would no be an issue to anybody looking for a good budget camera.

~DaFireWithin.

Hi,
Ive got a budget of around 400-500 Dollars. Yepz, no extras on lens. So I’m probably gonna stick with the basic lens I get in the box. Keeping that in mind, which camera is best for me?

tbarribeau

Both our current pick (the Sony NEX-5T) and our announced new pick (the Sony a5100) are less than $500, and come with a good kit lens. Is there a reason you don’t think either of them would work for you?

~DaFireWithin.

No. didn’t know they had good kit lens. Thanks for the clarification.

Jessica

Hi -in your forthcoming updated article identifying the a5100 as the best affordable option, will you also provide an even more affordable option (so a second best, but less expensive option)? Thanks in advance!

tbarribeau

We’ll try! Off the top of my head, the NEX-5T can be had for $350, and it’s still an excellent camera!

Jessica

Thanks! One last question – if you had to pick your favorite mirrorless camera for under $600 with an optical viewfinder, which would it be? And to throw a wrench at you (sorry) – feel free to suggest an advanced point and shoot for under $600 with an optical viewfinder, if you think there is one good enough (in terms of image quality) to consider alongside a mirrorless.

tbarribeau

A quick note on (pedantic) terminology! Mirrorless cameras don’t have optical viewfinders, they have electronic ones. DSLRs have optical viewfinders, because the light is bounced right up into it, but a mirrorless camera needs to have a little screen.

As for the best viewfinder packing mirrorless camera around? The OM-D E-M10 is our favorite mid-range mirrorless camera, and it’s currently available for $500 with a lens. It’s a bit hard to learn on for a newbie, but it’s a great camera!

Jessica

Thank you so much!!

Jason Braby

Great article, have been looking at the NEX-6 second hand but went for the 5100 in the end, managed to get from Amazon Warehouse for £255 which in my view is a real bargain. Great little camera and will take it when I cant be bothered to carry my Nikon.

Amy

Thank you so much for your guides and for taking the time to answer questions!

I am trying to buy a camera for my first trip to Europe next month and am totally overwhelmed.

I decided to go with the mirrorless over a point and shoot and now I’m torn between the a5100 and the NEX-5T. It looks like the 5T is much cheaper than the a5100 now, but I am willing to pay more if it makes sense.

My plan is to mostly use it for taking pictures while traveling and I am an amateur. So far I have only been using my iphone and I am so sick of taking blurry pictures. Do you think that the price difference is worth the improved features for someone like me? One other question — do both the a5100 and the NEX-5T make the loud clicking sound when you take the picture?

I have been trying to push my purchase off until after the new guide comes out but I am getting really close to leaving and want to have a week with the camera before I go.

Thanks!!

Amy

Also, are either of the cameras ios friendly?

tbarribeau

The NEX-5T is still a really solid camera, especially at the price it’s going for! It won’t be our main pick in the updated guide simply because it’s old enough that we’re not sure about stock levels, but it still takes very good photos. As for the NEX-5T vs the a5100, the NEX-5T has a faster burst mode (10fps vs 6fps), but it loses out on some other fairly nice features. It doesn’t have the new autofocus system of the a5100 that’s really great, and it has a slightly worse batter life. If you don’t mind those downsides, it’s still a great choice.

Both do make a click when you shoot, which is a combination of both a mechanical click of the shutter, and a recorded shutter snap noise. It’s a bizarre decision of Sony’s, and from my understanding, there’s no way to take it off. Which is frustrating.

Both of the cameras should talk to iOS pretty well. Depends a bit on what you want to do with them, but they have Wi-Fi modes and apps that will communicate with an iPhone.

Amy

Thank you so much for your feedback! I am going to go with the a5100 but it was a very hard choice. I think the autofocus would be important for me because I’m still learning and an improved battery life sounds helpful for traveling. I decided to get the Megagear ever ready case to go with it and the memory card recommended on wirecutter. I would have been in really bad shape without your guidance. Thanks again!

Sorry, one more question: are you saying that the 5T also has both the mechanical shutter and the recorded shutter snap as well? I am reading a lot of annoyed reviews about the a5100’s shutter noise but I haven’t seen this complaint for the 5T. Thanks!

tbarribeau

I’m not 100% on that, going off of memory. But it’s a complaint that’s been mentioned on a bunch of different Sony models

The main reason for me being in the market for a camera is to take video with bokeh effect. I was told that the Sonys seem to have superior video taking capabilities which is why I was considering an a5100 body with a 50mm prime lens.

Now that the a6000 has come down in price at a5100 or lower, I was wondering what your opinion on getting the a6000 body instead would be. Or, is there another camera I should be considering at about the same price points?

Should I also be considering the Sony RX100 to get the same effects as it has a f1.8 lens built in?

I am a total beginner by the way.
Budget of about $600-$700

tbarribeau

For a total beginner, get the a5100. While it might not have quite the same capabilities of, say, the a6000, it’s far friendlier for new users. And once you really know how to use it, you can consider updating.

Raj

Thanks you!

And if I wanted to buy a value prime lens for bokeh effect talking head videos (so video of someone talking, head and shoulders, with blurred background) which would you recommend with a5100/a6000. Is the Sony 50mm f1.8 the way to go? Or is the kit lens sufficient?

Also, is this the right camera for what I am trying to do, or do you have another recommendation?

tbarribeau

If you really do want to do just talking heads work, then the 50mm should work pretty well—but for something that’ll be more handy in more situations, I’d lean towards the Sony 35mm f/1.8 instead.

Unfortunately, I don’t know enough to say as to if it will work well for what you’re trying to do. We’re hoping to get more into recommendations for video work in the future, but as of right now we don’t have a firm enough grounding in that world to say how good of a rig it is cinematographically.

Raj

Thank you

Azrehan

I have an NEX-F3 which I bought in 2013 on the wirecutter recommendation and love it. Recently I have been taking photos at work for the furniture company I work for and the marketing manager has asked me to look into getting a camera for work with about $1000 – $1500 budget (Australian dollars).

I like the NEX or sony e mount lenses but I’d need something with the pop up flash that the NEX F3 has, but would like better image quality. I am getting a bit of graininess at large image size. I’d also like a lens which gets me flatter images (e.g.) portrait style lens as this would be best for furniture and staff photos. I’ve been using the sony 18-55 lens for most of my shots.

What would you recommend?

tbarribeau

Happy to try and help! Though need a little clarification on some of the things you’re looking for.

Why do you need a pop-up flash? Not every camera has them—our new pick the Sony a5100 does, but Sony is a bit odd about where they will or won’t include it.

Compared to the NEX-F3, the Sony a5100 does see some image quality improvements. I’m not sure what you mean by “graininess at large image size.” There could be a couple of things at work there. It might be that you’re shooting high ISO due to low light, which causes image noise, an ugly speckling. To help with that, especially with something still like furniture, you can shoot from a tripod using a slower shutter speed and lower ISO. The other issue might be that you’re saving the images at a small size or high compression, and then blowing them up large so that they look blocky and pixellated.

I’m also not sure what you mean by “flatter” for the images. Is it distortion that you’re seeing, where the images looks either like it bends outwards or inwards at the edges? Or do you mean more that you want more of the background blurred? Do you have any examples of what you’re looking for?

Azrehan

Hi Tim,

Thanks for replying. I’ll try to explain everything as best I can as I’m a bit of a novice.

Firstly, I need the pop up flash (or alternative) because I have some Viseco VE400 flash strobe lights. The pop up flash works from my NEX-F3 to activate the strobes, but any camera that can activate these would be great. The photo room is fairly dark so we rely on these lights.

I’ve been shooting at ISO1600 on aperture priority mode to get blurred backgrounds in some close up shots and wide aperture in hero shots. We have a tripod which has recently been damaged, but can add a new one to our budget. We just need a new head for ours as the casting has been broken.

By flattened images, I mean less lens distortion at the edges. With my 18-55 lens I get some distorting and blurriness at the edges of the frame. I’d like to be able to shoot from above or front plan view and get a flatter image. I do 3D renders in modo of these products also and usually use a (simulated) 200mm lens for flattened front views.

As far as image size goes, I’m shooting RAW + jpeg at max size (4912 x 3264 300ppi) and importing in lightroom cc with some post in photoshop cc. Most of the images will be saved at 800×800 pixels for our website, but we often send images for print in professional magazines at A4.

We do portraits of staff also, so the 50mm 1.8 lens would be good for this from what I have read. Also, this camera will be used at events (design competitions, launch events, community events – day and night)

tbarribeau

Thanks for the info! This really clarifies what you’re talking about! Let’s see if I can’t help a little.

For the flash: I’m not hugely knowledgeable on strobes, but from what I can gather, the strobes you have are triggered by the flash going off on your NEX-F3—which means that any camera with a built-in flash should be able to fire them, pop-up or not.

It sounds like you’ll benefit from the higher resolution of a newer generation of Sony, so the a5100 might give you some advantages there, as well as slightly better high ISO noise performance.

The flattening/lens issue is an interesting one. Like you mentioned with the 3D renders, using a long lens does serve to flatten the perspective of an image a fair amount—but it will often come at the cost of sharpness. Unless you’re investing in some pretty high end lenses, zooming in will usually lead to softer images. (FWIW, you can also deal with distortion fairly easily in post processing using Lightroom, especially when you shoot RAW). Plus you’ll need a fair amount of distance from your subject.

Lens wise, the 50mm f/1.8 is a solid lens, and at the very least will do a good job for the portraits. If you want to deep dive into the topic, I like the reviews from SLRGear. They’re a bit technical, but they do a good job of discussing issues like distortion and sharpness

I think the camera lens combo you linked would probably do the job for what you need—but that you’d get the best results by using a tripod and low ISO whenever possible, doing some research into what aperture settings have the best sharpness on those lenses, and also learning your way around something like Lightroom to deal with whatever flaws might pop up.

Hope that helps!

goszki

This might be a totally obvious question but I can’t find the answer anywhere. I’m a beginner, but I have used a DSLR in the past with quite a lot of enjoyment. My question is about the lenses for the Sony cameras. I played around with the default kits at a local store and wasn’t in love with the feel of the camera lens. To zoom in or adjust the focus manually I had to use digital controls and it lost the personal one to one feeling for me. Is there any way to adjust the lens zoom and focus manually by twisting the lens? I’m guessing there are e mount lenses that work like traditional DSLR lenses that I can manually adjust but I can’t figure out what that distinction in lenses is called. I apologize if this is really basic.

tbarribeau

Was it the 16-50mm lens? I think what you’re encountering there is a feature Sony calls “power zoom”, where zoom and focus functionality is entirely controlled digitally. You can spot them in the lens lineup because they have PZ in their names

I’m looking for a camera for a beginner, but I hope to learn and I want a camera that I still enjoy in a few years. I’m considering buying either the a5000 or the a5100. In Norway, the a5000 kit is about the same price as the a5100 body (370usd) and the a5100 kit about 610usd. For the same price as the a5100 kit, there is also a a5000 kit with both 16-50mm and 55-210mm lens. To me it seems like the a5000 might be the better deal, but the a5100 might still be worth it since it’s a better camera. The a6000 is a little above my budget (770usd). Any opinion on what camera I should buy? I’m not opposed to buying a more lenses in the future.

tbarribeau

The a5000 is still a really solid option. The a5100 has a couple of nice extras —better screen, faster burst shooting, improved AF. But the a5000 is still good, especially at that cost. For a beginner, there’s nothing wrong with getting the a5000 and going from there. My personal pref would be with both lenses, but nothing wrong with saving a few kroner and getting just the kit.

LarsBK

Thanks for the help! I’ll see if I can get an opportunity to test them both and compare. I don’t want to end up regretting not shelling out for a better camera in a few years or not getting the extra lens.

vince

Was wondering what your thoughts were on the E-PL6 for $300 with lens that is now available in the US.

tbarribeau

Great price, but it’s two years old, and definitely lagging behind in some features.

bayu

Did you compare the image quality from NX3000 to a5100 or a5000?
I found it’s a little bit strange to knock the camera out simply because it does not have touch screen and uses microSD, since it does have APSC sensor unlike the Olympus and Panasonic.

http://www.erinlodiphotography.com Erin Lodi

Especially since we’re making a recommendation for beginners, the camera must be easy to use. Sony’s image quality is outstanding, and that, along with many other important factors, make the a5100 our pick. If your primary concern is pixels, you should probably consider a different category of camera.

Anthony

“So when our Best Mirrorless Camera Under $1,000 pick falls from its typical starting retail price,, getting the more advanced option may sound all the more appealing. But we’d still caution photography novices and smartphone shooters looking to step up that the E-M10 will come with a far steeper learning curve and fewer features for beginners, like the a5100’s In-Camera Guide button.”

There 2 commas here. I am not sure what easier to use means in this article. Is it easier to use like a point and shoot, in full auto? Or is it easy to ramp up to tweaking exposure, aperture, etc? The lack of dual dials seems like it would make things harder to do. You need to dive into menu to change settings.

Raimis Juodvalkis

I really do not agree with this review. Samsung NX500 costs $529, has interchangeable lenses, records 4K video and makes way better pictures. I do understand everyone has his own opinion, I am not photography expert, but technical data of NX500 is much better. I own it and would say Sony its even not close to NX500.

luke_j__

Makes waaayyy better pictures. Hahaha. ‘You’ do or don’t make way better pictures man. After that, the lens is important. Not the camera.

Raimis Juodvalkis

Luke: I agree. I will buy Samsung NX 15-50mm f/2-2.8 S Series lenses and will get even more from NX500.

http://www.erinlodiphotography.com Erin Lodi

Thanks for sharing your experience. That camera isn’t widely available at that price — only one site sells it at that amount — so it didn’t meet our criteria for this review. We’re also considering far more than tech specs in our recommendation, especially for entry-level photographers.

Raimis Juodvalkis

Erin Lodi, I value your experience and respect your achievements. However electronics becoming better every day and I would give more broad view. Samsung is not mentioned in review. In my humble opinion 4K video recording and 28M sensor with interchangeable lenses makes Samsung NX500 top choice for beginner. NX500 has near same internals as professional NX1. Also selfie mode is cool. I own NS500 and really enjoy it.

http://www.erinlodiphotography.com Erin Lodi

It’s possible we’d consider that model if it becomes widely available at the under $600 price point, as our criteria dictated. Glad to hear you are enjoying it!

We appreciate your interest in this piece, but you’re missing a lot of what we talk about in the piece. For one, we do mention Samsung in the review—in fact we do so frequently. The Samsung NX3000 made it to the round of hands on testing, but faltered due to major interface issues and non-standard hardware.

The Samsun NX500 isn’t widely available at the price range that we considered for this piece. Only one retailer seems to have it (Fumfie), with essentially all the more widely known sellers, such as B&H, Amazon, Adorama, and others having it with a street price of $800.

There have also been complaints against Fumfie for offering gray market goods that won’t have warranties that work in the USA, which makes us incredibly hesitant to deal with products from them

The NX500 is pretty clearly not a good pick for an affordable camera suitable for someone’s first foray into interchangeable lens cameras. However, we will be updating our guide to mirrorless cameras under $1000 soon, at which point we will take a closer look at it.

MrVandelay

While the a5100 was $200 cheaper than the a6000 when the article was published, it’s only $100 cheaper today. With that in mind, readers might want to consider the a6000 as a first choice, or at least a closer look.

But even with the difference only being $100, we do think the a5100 is a better camera for a beginner than the a6000. Its UI and controls are more aimed at someone new to photography, compared to the a6000 which is more liable to drop you in the deep end. Which is great if you know your way around it! But for a newbie, can be overwhelming.

MrVandelay

Thanks Tim. They’re both great cameras, and as a recent a6000 purchaser I’ll be the first to admit that I’m sometimes overwhelmed with all its settings. I’m hoping to get smarter!

Bracktune

I used the NEX 5T on a recent trip and decided to return it because using the touchscreen outdoors made it nearly impossible to really compose a shot. I would love a viewfinder, but am still very much a beginner, so would worry about the a6000. Is the a5100 touchscreen any better in outdoor light situations or should I try the a6000 and hope the learning curve isn’t too steep? Or is there another solution?

http://www.erinlodiphotography.com Erin Lodi

The a5100 would definitely be an easier camera for a beginner to learn. I thought the touchscreen was very easy to use, even outdoors on sunny days.

Brandon Gittelman

As an A5000 owner (along with a Canon 70D/7D with L lenses), I’m not quite sure if there is really a significant difference between the A5000/A5100. Both have the same body, same basic firmware etc. Yes, the A5100 has PDAF and better video, plus a higher res LCD…. but depending on what you shoot, it may not matter much. Most people shoot architecture/nature/posed group shots, which the A5000 is more than adequate for. If you have kids and want to shoot sports, then yeah, the A5100 makes more sense, but the A5000 (and probably A3000, I think it has the same sensor) would be more than fine. I know I picked up one last winter for just under $300 and quality wise, couldn’t distinguish between my Canon DSLR’s in a controlled environment.

RichardSE

Thank you for your review. I still have not selected a camera, but I have another question. Did the lack of a viewfinder on the a5100 create any issues in keeping the camera steady? I think I read that it does not have image stabilization in the camera body. I don’t know if that means that it is in the lens. Thank you again.

You support The Wirecutter by purchasing what we recommend. Read more.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Your Guide

Erin Lodi has more than 15 years experience as a photojournalist, writer,
and professional photographer. Her work has appeared on DPReview.com,
PopPhoto, FLTR magazine and more. She practices aloha, lifestyle
photography and hot yoga in both Seattle and Maui.

After polling 1,200 Wirecutter readers and testing 27 tents, we found the three-person Big Agnes Blacktail 3 is the best tent for your camping needs. It’s more durable and better built than competing tents yet uses lighter-weight materials. Plus, its cheery lime-green and white color scheme creates a nicer ambiance than the orange or blue on competing tents, and that can help to boost your mood if you find yourself inside the tent on dismal days.